Social media is a huge part of everyday life for teens. This mass media form of communication offers opportunities to post photos, watch videos, chat with friends, or follow trends. And probably many of you have the skills to create interesting posts and videos. However, this same experience comes with challenges. It is important to understand how social media works and how to use it responsibly.

Body Image and Self-Perception

Seeing posts where you aren’t included in the fun activities of friends can lead to FOMO, or fear of missing out, and that can cause depression and a sense of loneliness. Your self-esteem and emotional stability can be affected if you are constantly checking to see if others have “liked” your comments. Be careful with how you express yourself or the kinds of photos that you post. Seeing celebrities in photos that have been enhanced can also create unrealistic standards. These posts can skew your perception of your body image, causing self-consciousness and being unhappy with your appearance.

Addiction and Overuse

Constant scrolling and the never-ending alerts and updates can negatively affect your relationships and productivity. Uninterrupted looking at your screen is definitely a deterrent to  a good night’s sleep and experiencing real-life social interactions. Yes, you can get addicted to cell phone and device usage. It is so easy to get caught up in the digital world that it can become a detriment to productivity, emotional health, and excelling in school work.

Privacy and Misinformation

All social media platforms are subject to privacy violations when a hacker or scammer gets access to your cell phone or computer programs. Personal information that users share on social media platforms is frequently vulnerable to exploitation if inadequate security measures are in place. Cyberbullying and harassment are frequently used to harm you or your friends if you participate in unverified communication with those you don’t know. It is easy for those wishing to harm you to hide behind being anonymous on socials.

Social Network Catfishing

Catfishing is when individuals create false identities to deceive others into forming relationships. Thinking that you’re talking to or messaging a new friend or a potential love relationship can be humiliating when you eventually find out they aren’t who they say they are. There are several situations to look out for. If the person refuses to have video calls or seems too good to be true, that is a warning sign. If they ask for money, do not comply with the request or demand. If they want compromising photos of you, do not send them.

Mitigating the Negative Effects of Social Media

Along with the cautions mentioned above, there are steps to take to reduce the negative impacts of social media.  The following strategies just might help you become aware of the necessary means to control how you use these powerful tools.

• Be aware of how much time you spend on social media and how it affects your mood.
• Set specific times for social media use and stick to them to avoid excessive scrolling.
• Interact with content and people that uplift you and unfollow negative posts.
• Regularly disconnect from social media to focus on real-life interactions.
• Turn off non-essential notifications to reduce distractions.