“No one is in the moment anymore,”observes Ava Casadonte (‘25). As entertainment has evolutionized it has shifted focus from real-life experiences to an instant dopamine fix. Via our phones, we stay up to date on current world events, providing culture and perspective and have found simpler ways to reach out and maintain relationships through social media. Although providing an outlet for creativity is not its only purpose, our phones and their applications serve as a more than adequate distraction. Our media, meant for purely socializing, has turned into ways to tune out and provide unrealistic expectations per individual. Photoshop and exposure to harmful content have developed a reluctance to focus on what’s in front of us and distracts us from our surroundings.
Teenagers’ main focus in life is supposed to be their academics, but recent studies show otherwise. With endless entertainment at their fingertips how could they pay attention to class material? School Cell Phone Bans: Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks, a research article submission by Lydia Shapiro on My Private Professor states that “97% of 11-17 year olds use phones during the school day,” illustrating the excessive use of students’ phone privileges and proving their irresponsibility in managing their time when confronted with a growing addiction. Understandably, with the unlimited access granted to adolescents during the pandemic five years ago, how could they know better? Humans are social creatures, they thrive on connections and thus grew reliant on digital communication when social distancing was the new norm.
Not only does social media cause negative academic effects, additionally it also causes mental health issues and low self esteem. These effects are larger than one might think. To many, they are a large contributor to depression. When asking Kaiya Chernavaski, (‘27) about social media’s impact on student’s health she voiced, “I think it does impact depression in students, especially to those who are already victim to it, and see people glorifying it.” These users, who promote depression, and talk about it, as it is a positive mental state, are impacting the easily influential students of Willow Glen High School. Making them feel their depressive thoughts, are okay to feel. Another huge effect that social media gives off is body image insecurities. Reese Jordao, (‘26) stated that, “Social media influencers cause me to compare myself with their hair, clothes, and overall looks.” These comparisons are quite unhealthy, as social media is not always reality. In many instances, influencers use filters and Photoshop, to enhance their appearance. Comparing yourself to unreal people can cause unrealistic expectations for yourself. Social media has many benefits, but it can cause low confidence, and depressive thoughts.
Social media creates a platform that connects the whole globe, however, does this international connection, outway, the major negatives it brings? It’s common that this platform gives students depression and insecure thoughts. It also damagingly affects youths academics, attention spans, and sleep schedules. These are very manageable problems, live in the moment and take breaks so you do not get entangled in the amazing but dangerous digital world.
