Blog 2

Blog 2

Social media has mixed effects on society. On the one hand, social media connects us in new and exciting ways. Maintaining friendships and relationships from thousands of miles away has never been easier. Another unique benefit social media has given us is the ability to find work or continue our education. Despite the wonderful benefits we reap from social media, there is a downside. On the other hand, social media overuse, especially in adolescents, is linked to increased rates of anxiety and depression. Comparison and self-doubt are fed to us through our screens, and it can be detrimental to our mental health and well-being if we don’t use social media appropriately.

Social media’s most poignant benefit is the connections we are able to maintain through social media. Russell Heimlich, a former researcher for the Pew Research Center, explains that roughly two-thirds of social media users are using social media to stay in touch with friends and family. I know that the older I’ve gotten and the further I’ve moved away from my family, the more I’ve relied on social media to stay in-touch and in the loop.

The other benefit that really comes to mind for me is the use of social media for job searching, networking, and furthering education. Sydney Segal wrote, for CNCB, “In 2021, as many as 92% of companies use social media and professional networks to hire for jobs.” Social media/professional networks such as LinkedIn have been crucial in the industry that I work in, and I’ve found that a strong social media presence, in general, has helped me network within my industry and stand out. 

On the other side of things, social media can have a detrimental effect on our mental health and well-being. This is even more serious for adolescents, whose brains are still developing in important ways. Yale Medicine explains, “According to a research study of American teens ages 12-15, those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes.” While the vast amount of information and content available online can be seen as a good thing, we need to recognize that teenagers and young adults can access harmful content that shapes their way of thinking. 

I think that social media, when used appropriately, can have a lot of incredible benefits. I’m a Navy wife, and my husband leaves for long periods of time to serve our country. In his physical absence, we are able to maintain a connection and continue building our relationship through the use of social media. We rely on it, actually. With that being said, I think it’s so important to use social media responsibly. I also try to limit my “doom scrolling” and not compare myself to others on social media. Social media can be incredible, or incredibly harmful. It depends who is using it and if they’re using it responsibly. 

Works Cited:

Heimlich, R. (2011, December 22). Using social media to keep in touch. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/12/22/using-social-media-to-keep-in-touch/ 

Katella, K. (2024, June 17). How social media affects your teen’s mental health: A parent’s guide. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide 

Segal, S. (2021, November 15). Tiktok resumes and Instagram portfolios: How college students are using social media to find jobs. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/14/from-tiktok-to-instagram-how-students-use-social-media-to-find-jobs.html