How social media affects teens

          Social media affects a lot of people and their mental health. Many parents worry about it because it causes a lot of self-confidence and low self-esteem problems. Toddlers having access to an iPad and a screen doesn’t help either. In fact experts worry that social media and text messages that have become so integral to teenage life are promoting anxiety and depression.There was a survey about this in the U.K and asked 14- 24 yearolds if and how social media impacted their lifes and what it did.of over half a million eighth through 12th graders found that the number exhibiting high levels of depressive symptoms increased by 33 percent between 2010 and 2015. In the same period, the suicide rate for girls in that age group increased by 65 percent.

           A lot of people use social media social media like twitter to vent about politics. When people do it can cause alot of stress.Researchers in washington D.C did a survey  to find out if social media induces more stress than it relieves. In the survey of 1800 people, women said they were more stressed out than men on social media. But twitter could also be a copeing meconism and the more women used it the less stressed they were. The survey also said that men typicly are not attached to social medias so they have less stress.Stress is a way of life because we can't avoid it but social media can increase stress levels.  
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          Many people use their phones before they go to sleep witch can cause sleep problems. Social medias can also effect sleeping and how late you stay up.Research has found that loss of sleep can inhibit the body’s production of the hormone melatonin, which facilitates sleep. Blue light, which is emitted by smartphone and laptop screens, is said to be the worst culprit. Researchers from pitsburg collage surveyed 1700 18-30 year olds and they all said that blue screen was involved. The bright lights from our devices can delay circadian rhythms. Try to set a limit before bed to have 40 minutes without a screen and see if it helps.


Story by Hazel Wiesner

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