Kiley Preston

Prof. Calhoun

ENG 1201

23 April 2020

How Social Media Affects Our Lives

It’s no doubt that technology has improved throughout the years and has created

an easier way of communication that’s not face to face. Through devices, social media

has become the biggest influence on teens and young adults. Social media affects our

lifestyles, current moods, behavior, and our social cues and these signs are found to be

starting in adolescents.

How does social media affect our community in their social life? The two biggest

social media apps that impact our society’s mental health are Snapchat and Instagram.

Many teenagers during this time discovered these apps and decided to replace the

outdated ones​. ​Snapchat is an immense company with greater advanced

communication technology like no other appliance has provided. Instagram is a great

way to share with friends and family what is going on in their lives through pictures and

com​ments.

The layout of Snapchat is quite simple and clean, however it looks confusing at

first glance. This layout consists of three pages and one you can slide down. When you

open the appliance you view yourself, making the main screen the camera you use to

send people messages. The screen to the left is where you recieve, start the process of
responding to someone, make a groupchat or search your friends. To the right of the

home screen is where you can view stories people post to their said “profile”, which we

will get into later. The app is simple with only the colors being yellow, black, white and

occasionally blue. The extra page that drops down consists of your Snapchat ID,

Snapscore, settings, a place to add friends manually/see who added you, and a section

for your trophies. The app provides us with the efficient, organized and clean interaction

that does force others to come face to face.

The major concept behind this worldwide used appliance is the relay of a

message with a picture that disappears within seconds. Another is the ability to add

friends into what are your “contacts” and be able to talk amongst each other. Many

different features go along with this main one such as, the capability to scan one

another’s Snapchat ID which consists of scattered dots in a yellow square. Snapchat

shows efficiency with this concept because it takes more time and effort to get one's

phone number and put it in your contacts appliance rather than scanning a code and

clicking “Add Friend.” When examining the app, it is clear with a search bar on the left

screen that states “Search Friends” that you can easily type in the name of the friend

you are looking for and start a conversation.

When we purchase something we depend on it to be reliable and to not

malfunction. With as many users as Snapchat has daily and in general, it is hard to

guarantee something won’t go wrong. There are plenty of times my phone has closed

out of the app, not sent a message or couldn’t open a snap/story while under perfect

WIFI, or said I opened one without actually seeing it. One faulty moment that seems to
get a lot of people is when a snap you send goes to the wrong person. With many

people, there are always new names popping up at the top of their notification list and

when replying some accidentally click the wrong name due to the small space that is

provided for each notification. This will often cause them to feel awkward, or maybe get

into a predicament if they send secretive information. The hype on the efficiency and

speed of the app is compelling but are the glitches and non-reliableness of the app

enough to stop users from getting Snapchat?

How else would others know what you were doing if you didn’t post a picture on

your Snapchat story for everyone to see? Exactly! Snapchat stories are another main

point of this appliance. Users post anything from what they are eating for lunch to

videos of their friends being crazy. The layout of these stories are quite simple. They sit

above everything on the right page in one long horizontal line depending on how many

phone-fiending friends you have. They appear as circles with a preview of what you’re

about to see when you click it and who posted it by having their name on the cover.

They can be easily put away and skipped through with a tap, or fifty, of the screen.

Under the emphamis stories are real news and magazine articles that you can pick to

subscribe to. Which clears up time in the users schedule from watching the news at

home. These components can keep users connected with friends and to the world

around them.

Instagram is much different in the way it is laid out. Instagram is an app to share

media through pictures and videos and was launched in 2010 as an app. It was exciting

and new, because of the unique features that were found on it. There is a “Stories”
feature which only appears for a time length of twenty four hours. When you open the

app you are always brought to the news/media feed where you can see your followers

posts!

Both of these apps have greatly impacted young teens/adults lives. They are a

way to escape what you're doing in real life and have insight on others. It is very easy to

portray a “perfect” lifestyle while on these apps and that is how most of us are

entertained yet put down too. Social media is the easiest way to compare ourselves and

be judgemental and that's how we let it affect our lives. An article from Sinclair’s

database states,​ “There is a substantial agreement that using social media platforms

have positive effects and dark sides on well-being along with many contradictions.”

(Walaa Mahmoud) This is a growing issue because social media has grown

tremendously over the past years. This is confirmed in another article, “Whereas only

five percent​ of adults in the United States reported using a social media platform in

2005, that number is now around ​70 percent​.” (Summer Allen)

One major issue that we come across when social media comes into play is the

lack of face to face communication. This can make younger children lack in the social

cues category, and could affect how they communicate with others for the rest of their

lives. In a recent study conducted by Jean Twenge it was found that, “...​high school

seniors heading to college in 2016 spent an “ hour less a day engaging in in-person

social interaction” (Summer Allen). This will continue to be an ongoing issue because of

the fact screen time is not limited to young children. We pick up habits early on in

preadolescent ages and even before that. For example, when a child or toddler is given
a phone every time it whines or cries, it is guaranteed to be addicted to the comfort

when on it.​ ​They then grow older and as social media improvements it gives

adolescents something to look forward to and be excited about.

There seems to be a correlation with social media and the depression because

as social media usage increases the depression rate increases. As stated in an article,

“When teens compare themselves to photos of others and the illusion of others’ better

lives, they can experience decreased self-esteem and depression.” ( New York

Behavioral Health) This is a major issue because of the fact young teens and adults are

developing such a strong mental disorder when it could easily be prevented. Social

media was made for the right reasons however it has a lot of negative impacts due to

the fact we all compare our lives to others or get angry over a Snapchat we see of our

friends hanging out without us. As humans we don’t think of others feelings a lot of

times and think how another person would feel by seeing our posts and such. I am

guilty of both sides of social media. I find myself going through post after post of

people's lives and thinking, “I wish I was having as much fun as them.” or “why don’t I

look like her?” It’s ridiculous how one post can make us want to be alone for the night or

make us self conscious.

Social media affects a lot of humans self esteem, at any age. It’s not easy to see

stories of celebrities with hourglass figures and perfect face structures pop up on your

Snapchat story or Instagram feed. In a study of active social media users between

28-73 years old it was found that, “60% of people using social media reported that it has

impacted their self-esteem in a negative way.” (Clarissa Silva) This is a large number
that shows how strong social media can impact our lives. Within Snapchat and

Instagram it is easy to get lost in how perfect a relationship, person, and life seems

because it is easy for us to smile for the camera as if nothing bad is happening. What

people fail to understand is that we are all human and at the end of each day we all

have our own problems, mistakes, flaws, and imperfections.

With all this being said, some people argue that social media is beneficial. Many

say that this is a better way of communicating with others, staying in touch with old

friends, and a way to contact long distance family/friends, etc. Others could also argue

that social media teaches them new things and gives them more insights. For example,

Instagram has countless fitness and health influencers that could be beneficial to people

who don’t have a sturdy diet or good workout plan. Snapchat could be useful because it

has various news articles such as “Daily Mail” or “NBC News” and articles such as

“Cosmopolitan” and “Buzzfeed.” An opposing view might state that social media has

improved learning and speeds up the adolescents brain on relative topics and current

terminology. They could also explain how this makes it easier to meet new people that

could potentially be lifelong friends, a potential spouse, or just someone to talk to. To

my argument that social media causes depression or self esteem issues, someone

could contradict that. They could argue that with all these users can come therapists,

counselors, or people that would be there to listen and help online. With all these

arguments I still stand strong that social media is more impactful negatively than

positively.
 It is astonishing how impactful social media can be on every age range. We tend

to blame others when in reality we are the ones hurting ourselves by comparing and

being envious of others. We reach for it when we are bored, with friends and family, or

want to relax. Nowadays you don’t see people who don’t actually have social media. It’s

a way to connect to others, find new friends, be updated on the latest

music/trends/fashion, and share your life. I think social media is relaxing for some

people. I say this because it is very easy for someone to portray a perfect life or

happiness that in reality, is false. It makes some people feel better about themselves

and the lives they are living if it looks good to others. Likes and comments surprisingly

mean a lot to social media users to the point where they let it affect their mood. A

source from Sinclair’s database shows this by saying, “The Instagram media-based

social network is well-suited to such prediction since there is an initial posting of an

image typically with an associated text caption, followed later by the text comments that

form the basis of a specific cyberbullying incident.” (Homa ​Hosseinmardi)

Cyberbullying is something that starts at a young age on social media. New apps

such as TikTok have young children and middle schoolers raving. Grade school is a

hard time for most children and the developing stage where they are figuring out who

they are. Children post immature/foolish things without thinking of others feelings and in

reality this is the start of depression or self esteem issues that might occur later in the

child's life that is getting bullied. It is an easy way for these kids to feel powerful or better

than another because they can say whatever they want behind a screen that is not

face-to-face. The social media addiction starts at a young age like I stated earlier.
Parents tend to solve problems with their children by giving them the device or even

getting them their own for a birthday or Christmas. Our society is growing up on social

media and it needs to slow down in order for the negative impact percentages get

smaller. Social media is decreasing the amount of face to face interaction we have and

decreasing our social cues and abilities to have conversation. Yes, it makes

communication easier and quicker but as humans we need interaction and the comfort

of someone else’s presence.

A major issue in the United States is addiction. This can apply to alcohol, drugs,

and now to technology. By putting technology in the hands of children we open a whole

new world of opportunities, possibilities for mistakes and failure. It is easy for us to be

addicted to what other people are doing, who’s having the most fun, and wondering

who’s the most interesting life. We get so wrapped up in someone else’s life or a

fantasy life/relationship that we don’t even focus on our own. We hardly make our own

goals that we want to make and make them based on how other people look or are

living. I even find myself changing my style sometimes based on someone I look up to

or envy. This is not how we should be. As humans we are unique and different all in our
own ways, so why try to be someone else?

The final topic I will touch on of how social media affects our lives is, sleep. Many

of us are on our phones right before going to bed and end up going to bed later then

what we had planned on. Sleep is a very important factor in how we function and feel

the next day. Teenagers need the most sleep to rejuvenate for the next long day at

school learning or just in general on any other day to be able to let their body relax.

Teenagers are the ones spending the most time on technology and social media

therefore they are putting their bodies in the most stress. Sleep helps our bodies and

mind rest from all the activity we process throughout each day and social media delays

that process. Screen time should be limited throughout the day and put away about

thirty minutes prior hitting the hay.

affects us more than we know. All the negative impacts outweigh the benefits when you

put it in perspective. We should try and limit the amount we use it within each day to see

a positive change in our life. Worldwide we should slow down the usage of social media

before it affects us in detrimental ways. Just think, social media starts affecting us in the

adolescent stage by changing our lifestyles, moods, and sometimes behavior.

Allen, Summer. “Social Media's Growing Impact on Our Lives.” ​American

Psychological

Association​, American Psychological Association, 20 Sept. 2019,

www.apa.org/members/content/social-media-research​.

Asky, Doctor. “7 Ways Social Media Affects Your Brain, According to Science -.”

Doctor ASKY​, 24 Aug. 2018,

www.doctorasky.com/7-ways-social-media-affects-your-brain-according-to

-science/.

Hosseinmardi, Homa, et al. “Prediction of Cyberbullying Incidents in a

Media-Based Social Network.” ​2016 IEEE/ACM International Conference

on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining (ASONAM),

Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining (ASONAM), 2016 I

EEE/ACM International Conference On,​ Aug. 2016, pp. 186–192.

EBSCOhost​, doi:10.1109/ASONAM.2016.7752233.

Mahmoud, Walaa S., and Ajayeb S. Abu Daabes. “Does Social Media

Affects Users’ Well-Being.” ​2019 International Arab Conference on

Information Technology (ACIT), Information Technology (ACIT), 2019

International Arab Conference On​, Dec. 2019, pp. 78–80. ​EBSCOhost,​

doi:10.1109/ACIT47987.2019.8991006.
“New York Behavioral Health.” ​New York Behavioral Health,​

newyorkbehavioralhealth.com/the-impact-of-social-media-use-on-social-sk

ills.

Silva, Clarissa. “Social Media's Impact On Self-Esteem.” ​HuffPost​,

HuffPost, 22 Feb. 2017,

www.huffpost.com/entry/social-medias-impact-on-self-esteem_b_58ade03

8e4b0d818c4f0a4e4.