Social Media and It's Effect on Teen Mental Health

Over the past years, the rapid development of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has caused several changes in the way people interact with each other. Facebook is the biggest social networking site, with more than one billion users, and it’s estimated to significantly increase in the future due to developing countries. With the major of our society’s adolescence fixated on various forms of social media platforms, research has shown that there is a definite link between excessive use and mental health issues, such as depression and low self-esteem.

A healthy mind is a healthy body. Mental health can be defined as a person's condition in regard to their psychological and emotional well being. Mental health affects the way we think, feel, and act. It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. From childhood, to adolescence, and finally through adulthood, mental health is important in every aspect of life. “Social networking sites require 21st century teenagers to live their life under the eye of an electronic adjudicator far more cruel and censorious than any examiner, teacher, or parent” (Paton 1). Unfortunately, social media is doing more harm than good to our generation.

One notable symptom from resulting from excessive social media use is depression. Depression is feelings of severe despair and dejection. Experts see the rise in depression as evidence that the connections social media users form electronically are less emotionally satisfying than in person. This ends up leaving them feeling socially isolated. The less you are connected with human beings in a deep, empathic way, the less you’re getting the benefits of a regular social interaction, The more superficial it is, the less likely it’s going to cause you to feel connected, which is something we all need. Recent research conducted by Pennsylvania University points out that “...the more time we spend on social media, the more disturbed and lonely we become. It also puts you at a greater risk of depression” (Times of India). Additional research shows that “...in a high school student population, we found a statistically positive correlation between depressive symptoms and time spent on SNS” (Dr. Igor Pantic 2.”

Another effect of excessive social