Is Social Media Dangerous?

Just last month, Congress summoned the heads of dominant social media platforms Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord to discuss the dangers of minors’ exposure to social media. Tensions reached an all-time high as the CEOs of said companies were put under the spotlight, accused of having “blood on their hands” after failing to take the proper measures to protect children against the hazards social media possesses.

With technology becoming more pervasive in everyday life, the evolution of social media advances rapidly, becoming an integral part of our daily lives. In a 2023 study administered by Gallup, it is reported that over half of U.S. teenagers average at least 4 hours using social media on a day-to-day basis. 

“A lot of kids, like myself, are glued to their phone because we grew up around it and it’s become a habit we can’t get rid of. I don’t check my phone every few seconds, but I do check periodically and rely on my phone for several things.”  Christopher Stegner, junior, states.  

Still, the embracement of social media amongst our youth has sparked a topic of great discussion. 

”Social media is meant to be a community, and while that is great, there are a lot of negatives that stem from it.” Hugo Sierra, AP Psychology teacher, expresses. 

While social media could benefit teens by acting as a gateway to connectivity and self-expression, it makes adolescents vulnerable in many different ways. A study conducted by PubMed Central in 2018 depicts a positive association between suicidality and social media usage in teens, documenting that 10-40% of minors are victims of cyberbullying. 

At the user’s expense, social media companies employ distinct design tactics that keep users immersed in their platform. Such strategies expose users to the risk of developing a dependency to social media, which makes individuals more susceptible to psychological issues. While addictive elements such as the like, follow, and comment features foster communication, the constant desire for interaction could have a negative influence on an individual’s self-esteem. 

“Social media platforms drive surges of dopamine to the brain to keep consumers coming back over and over again.” Dr. Nancy DeAngelis, CRNP and Director of Behavior Health, states. “The shares, likes, and comments on these platforms trigger the brain’s reward center, resulting in a high similar to the one people feel when gambling or using drugs.”

The manipulation and showcasing of extravagant lifestyles blur the lines between perception and reality, which sets unrealistic standards. This could lead to disordered mindsets, such as isolation, eating disorders, and depression. Platform’s lack of regulation and filtration of content could expose users to inappropriate content. 

With the growing number of teen suicides, lawmakers, critics, and families of victims are beginning to put pressure on CEOs to take action in developing stricter child protection laws. 

Florida lawmakers have already made the first attempts to stricken children’s protection laws by implementing bans on social media access to children younger than the age of 16. This regulation earned both support and opposition, the latter arguing that it should ultimately be up to the parents, not the government, to regulate children’s access to social media. 

“Though I understand ultimately where [Congress] is coming from, I don’t think it’ll be beneficial to restrict social media.” Diana Alonso, junior, comments. “It’ll be tough to regulate it, and I feel as if children will feel more inclined to access it now that it is forbidden.”

Although the bill was initially vetoed by Governor DeSantis, a revamped version of the bill has garnered massive support, passing the Senate with a 30-5 vote. Adjustments made to the bill will allow for fourteen and fifteen-year-olds to use social media under a guardian’s approval.