社交媒体:无尽的悲伤卷轴

作者:Charlaine Nyarko ' 27

上图来源: freepix.com 

社交媒体. An outlet for creativity, communication, discussion, and bringing people together. 社交媒体 has become an important part of today's society; it has revolutionized the way we connect, 分享信息, 参与日常生活. 所有年龄段的人都可以使用社交媒体, but nowadays it is mostly tailored for the younger generation.

社交媒体 was created to allow users to stay connected and informed within their communities.  这是一个分享想法的空间, 在政治上进行激烈的讨论, 社会, 经济, 宗教, 私人的话题. 这是一个很好的沟通工具, allowing people on different sides of the globe to interact as if they were next to each other. It brings down barriers and brings people together, creating spaces where people can find others who are like-minded to them.

However, despite its many upsides, in the eyes of many parents, 社会 media is harmful. Many have guardians who seem like a broken record, 关于社交媒体负面影响的讲座, 或者完全不告诉孩子. Some parents stand firm in their belief that this beautiful rose of 社会 media still has its thorns. 但 what if I told you there was some truth in their concerns? Although one won’t likely be kidnapped by telling a stranger online their favorite color, 还有一个更大的敌人. 比较. 你可能会想:“这有什么问题? Don’t compare yourself to others, and be happy with who you are!“嗯，没那么容易. Many fall into the trap of wanting to know what's trending among their peers, and download 社会 media apps just to stay current.  

The original purpose of 社会 media has evolved away from communication and creativity to an emphasis on creating the perfect life.  这种转变导致了意想不到的后果， impacting the overall well being of mostly teenagers along with others, according to reporting by the New York Times. 此外,其 上瘾的性质 due to the endless streaming content leads users to be consumed by it. 最近，卫生局局长Dr. Vivek Murthy发布了一份关于 the effects 社会 media has on the mental health of the youth. This advisory changed the dialogue from one of debate to one of warning. In response to the Surgeon General and constituents there have been countless senate hearings with the CEOs of 社会 media apps such as 抖音、脸谱网、推特和Snapchat.

西奥多·罗斯福曾经说过,  “比较 is the thief of joy;" which is exactly what 社会 media does today. On 社会 media there will always be someone better. 在学业上, 身体上的, 精神上, 甚至是精神上的, it always seems that there is something you don’t have or haven’t achieved. 除了成就, 在社交媒体上, there is a constant exposure to ideal and *seemingly* perfect lives, 哪些通常是无法实现的. 此外, 严格的审美标准, 它现在, 似乎是最重要的, pressures many to conform to the narrow definition of beauty. 加班, this constant exposure and pressure can lead to one feeling as if they are not enough, 不安全感, 甚至在极端的情况下, 抑郁症. The realistic ability for individuals to struggle to fit into the laughably unrealistic mold set by trends and other sources leads to an alarming number of people questioning their worth. 

Many don’t think that simply seeing the lives of others and aspiring to be greater yourself can cause insecurities and low self esteem. 但, the constant barrage of seemingly perfect lives can unknowingly result the relentlessly pursuit of perfection. 这个高压锅，我们称之为社交媒体, 陷阱不仅仅是青少年, but users of all ages into a cycle of 不安全感 and wanting to be as perfect as others seem.  但 this begs the question: Why not just avoid the apps? 这是完全有效的. 但 as a teenager, I can say we are very naive to the bigger picture. 尽管有缺点, many teens are blind and blissfully unaware of the impact 社会 media has on them. 有趣的, entertaining content as well as interacting with not only friends but like minded people makes 社会 media enthralling. 

Some believe that the responsibility lies with the user. If one doesn’t want to feel this way scrolling on their feed, they can easily filter it out. However, 社会 media itself is the problem, not the users. Most, if not all promote having a perfect, well – everything. 脸. Body. 个性. 看起来. 外面的一切. What seems to be the rage nowadays is ‘mewing’ to get a perfect jawline, or having an hourglass body or perfectly chiseled abs. This is very toxic to those who aren’t lucky enough to have these - lacking genetic "perfection" causes people to look in the mirror and dislike what they see. 

This never-ending comparison is like pouring a Monster Energy drink on a newly budding plant. 新发芽的植物, 易受影响的:青少年容易受影响的思想, is "nurtured" into a nagging feeling of inadequacy by 社会 media.  It is now a regular for young teens to measure their life up against simply unachievable goals. The argument that kids shouldn’t use 社会 media altogether is very valid, 但不幸的是, 不太可行.

All in all, 社会 media stands as a great tool for communication, news, and connection. Its platforms allow users to connect with each other through art and conversation. 不幸的是, the original positive intentions behind the creation of 社会 media warped over time into something that has negatively impacted the wellbeing of the younger generation. 然而，并不是所有的希望都破灭了. There are many organizations working to prevent these harms and protect all users. 美国儿科学会(美国儿科学会)及COP (儿童上网保护) for example, have advocated for teens and against harms 社会 media may cause.  但是，尽管采取了措施, 社交媒体的影响, 并继续拥有, 关于青少年的问题仍然挥之不去, 就像一股恶臭，永不消散.