Let’s face it, everybody and their mom is on social media. But does that mean that literally EVERYBODY should be using it? Today’s Pulse covers the affects of social media use on young adolescents.

The Pulse Results (51 Votes) 📈

Side A 45% - Social media use helps young adolescents

Side B 55% - Social media use harms young adolescents

^{Poll closed: May 29, 2023}

The surgeon general’s warning is a wake up call for social networks

Published on: May 23, 2023
Published by: Platformer

Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued a warning about the potential risks of social media use, particularly for young adolescents in a comprehensive 19-page advisory. The report raises concerns about starting social media use at a young age, increased vulnerability for certain groups, negative impacts on brain development and mental health, and emphasizes the importance of limiting screen time and enforcing age guidelines.

While many agree that the risks of social media use are significant for young people, others argue that the benefits of social media for adolescents outweigh the potential risks. They contend that social media keeps young people connected to like-minded individuals, provides them with information and education, offers opportunities for creative expression, and ensures that those without access to social media do not fall behind their peers.

So, what are your thoughts? Does social media use help or harm young adolescents?

The Debate Showdown

Side A: Social media use helps young adolescents

• Connectivity and Social Interaction: Social media platforms give teens opportunities to connect and interact with peers, friends, and family members. It fosters a sense of belonging, enhances social skills, and helps fight feelings of isolation or loneliness.

• Access to Information and Education: Think of social media as a huge library in their pocket. It’s not all about the memes and cat videos; there’s a world of knowledge that teens have access to. Teens can follow cool educational pages, watch how-to tutorials, or dive into chats about their favourite subjects. It gives them a way to learn new things without even feeling like they’re studying.

• Creative Expression and Skill Development: Teens can let their creativity run wild, share their unique talents, and even learn new tricks along the way. Whether they’re into photography, love writing, or are budding graphic designers, they can use social media to showcase their masterpieces and grow as artists.

• Networking and Career Opportunities: Social media platforms facilitate networking, allowing youth to connect with professionals, mentors, and potential employers. This exposure can be valuable for college admissions, internships, and future employment.

• Cultural Exchange and Global Perspective: Through social media, adolescents can connect with individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives worldwide. This exposure promotes cultural understanding, empathy, and broadens their worldview.

Side B: Social media use harms young adolescents

• Mental health concerns: Social media has been linked to various mental health issues among adolescents, such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Constant exposure to carefully curated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy, social comparison, and a negative body image.

• Cyberbullying: Social media can unfortunately become a playground for cyberbullies. It's like the school bully followed you home and is hiding behind a screen. This can really ramp up stress and can lead to some serious mental health issues for young people.

• Impact on personal relationships: Social media can become a barrier to developing meaningful real-life relationships. Spending time on social media can decrease face-to-face social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and detachment. This can lead to a lack of social skills, reduced empathy, and make it difficult to form and maintain interpersonal relationships.

• Impact on academic performance: Social media can be a distraction and negatively impact academic performance. The constant notifications, updates, and addictive nature of social media can lead to decreased focus, reduced productivity, and increased procrastination. This can result in poor grades, missed deadlines, and a lack of engagement in educational activities.

Key Takeaways:

• US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's advisory on social media and youth mental health concludes that the potential for harm is significant.

• The full report from the surgeon general on social media and youth mental health is 19 pages long.

• A growing body of evidence suggests that social networks pose significant risks to teenagers, particularly to their mental health.

• Utah has passed a law preventing children under 18 from using social networks without their consent, Arkansas is considering a similar law, and Montana recently banned TikTok altogether.

• Two in five children have started using social networks between the ages of 8 and 12, despite the terms of service typically forbidding children under 13 from using them.

• Children at higher risk of harm from social networks include adolescent girls, kids with mental health issues, cyber-bullied kids, kids with body image issues and disordered eating, and kids with disrupted sleeping patterns.

• Spending more than three hours a day on social networks doubles the risk of bad mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety.

• Social media has benefits for young people, including supporting the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youths and providing a sense of acceptance, support, and connection for many adolescents.

• Seven out of ten adolescent girls of colour report encountering positive or identity-affirming content related to race across social media platforms.

• A majority of adolescents report that social media helps them feel more accepted (58%), like they have people who can support them through tough times (67%), like they have a place to show their creative side (71%), and more connected to what’s going on in their friends’ lives (80%).

• High-frequency use of digital media, with social media as one of the most common activities, was associated with a modest yet statistically significant increased odds of developing ADHD symptoms in a longitudinal study of adolescents without ADHD symptoms.

• There is concern about the lack of data access and transparency from technology companies, hindering the understanding of the full impact of social media on mental health and well-being.

• Academic researchers now have a legal avenue to request and study platform data thanks to the European Union's Digital Services Act.

• The surgeon general's warning suggests that using social networks poses risks to children, particularly younger children in high-risk groups.

Previous Debate

Previous Pulse Results (34 Votes) 📈

Side A 53% - Climate change is a bigger threat to humanity than AI

Side B 47% - AI is a bigger threat to humanity than climate change