“HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF GRADE 10 JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS”

I choose this topic because I notice that the students are only focused on social media and they don't know what
are the effects of that in their Mental health. Unnecessary use of Social Media makes them more anxious, lonely,
and depress and may lead to suicide. Here's are the reason why social media may lead to mental issues and
concern that should occur by the administration to lessen and prevent the high risk of suicide.

According to recent report from Pew Research Center, 95% of teens use a smartphone, and 45% say they are
online almost constantly. About 70% of teens use Snapchat and Instagram, while 85% are on YouTube

According to the experts who are finding that the more time teens spend on social media the lonelier and more
anxious they are. According to Jacob Barkley, professor of health sciences at Kent State University, there’s a
correlation between smartphone usage and lower satisfaction in life. Barkley explains that the higher the
cellphone use the more time spent on social media and the higher the anxiety. Peer relationship get worse the
more you use your phone.

As stated by Jean Twenge a psychology professor at San Diego State University. Twenge discover that students
who spend more time in using smartphones and other electronic devices are less satisfied with their lives than
students who frequently engage in face-to-face she also found that teens who spent five or more hours a day
online were 71% more likely than those who spent less than hour a day to have at least one suicide risk factor.
Overall, suicide risk factor rose significantly after two or more hours a day of time online.

Social Media and Anxiety

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control issued some sobering statistics about student anxiety and depression. Teens are
more lonely, anxious and depressed than ever. About a third of teens surveyed by the CDC said they’d felt persistent
sadness or hopelessness. Social media, says John Richter, director of Public Policy at the Mental Health Association,
believes social media is exacerbating this trend. “Researchers are finding that when someone develops depression and
withdraws from peers, they see other people on social media smiling and at parties with friends. It magnifies their sense
of isolation,” says Richter. The Child Mind Institute’s 2018 Children’s Mental Health Report focuses on anxiety in
teenagers, spotlighting the prevalent role of social media has in their lives. The report points out that existing research
does conclude that social media can be constructive, youth with a stronger emotional investment in social media are
likely to have higher levels of anxiety. ”And yet, students have trouble putting their phone down for too long, says
Crystal Huset, counselor at Pardeeville High School in Wisconsin. “It seems like many students struggle to detach from
their electronic devices,” says Huset. “Many students do see social media as an issue, but it is also the only thing that
they know.”

Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, observes that “Fear of missing out is really the fear
of not being connected to our social world, and that need to feel connected sometimes trumps whatever’s going on in
the actual situation we’re in. The more we use social media, the less we think about being present in the moment.”
Instead we might be occupied with worrying why we weren’t invited to a party we’re seeing on Instagram, or making
sure we don’t miss a single post from a friend. But if we’re always playing catch-up to endless online updates, we’re
prioritizing social interactions that aren’t as emotionally rewarding and can actually make us feel more isolated.

Curation of a perfect image may not only make others feel inadequate, it’s unhealthy even for those who appear to be
successful at it, notes Dr. Bubrick. “Kids spend so much time on social media trying to post what they think the world will
think is a perfect life. Look at how happy I am! Look how beautiful I am! Without that they’re worried that their friends
won’t accept them. They’re afraid of being rejected.” And if they are getting positive feedback from their social media
accounts, they might worry that what their friends like isn’t the “real” them.
from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine showed that the more time young adults spent on social media, the
more likely they were to have problems sleeping and report symptoms of depression.
Too much time spent scrolling through social media can result in symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Here’s how
social media can be destructive:
Focusing on likes : The need to gain “likes” on social media can cause teens to make choices they would otherwise not
make, including altering their appearance, engaging in negative behaviors, and accepting risky social media challenges.
Cyber bullying: Teens girls in particular are at risk of cyber bullying through use of social media, but teen boys are not
immune. Cyber bullying is associated with depression, anxiety, and an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts.
Making comparisons: Though many teens know that their peers share only their highlight reels on social media, it’s very
difficult to avoid making comparisons. Everything from physical appearance to life circumstances to perceived successes
and failures are under a microscope on social media.
Having too many fake friends : Even with privacy settings in place, teens can collect thousands of friends through friends
of friends on social media. The more people on the friend list, the more people have access to screenshot photos, Snaps,
and updates and use them for other purposes. There is no privacy on social media.
Less face time: Social interaction skills require daily practice, even for teens. It’s difficult to build empathy and
compassion (our best weapons in the war on bullying) when teens spend more time “engaging” online than they do in
person. Human connection is a powerful tool and builds skills that last a lifetime.
=There’s a happy medium in here somewhere. The key to helping teens learn to balance social media with real life
friendships is to keep the lines of communication open and keep talking. Honest communication shows your teen that
you are there to support, not to judge or lecture. It’s also important to walk the walk. Disconnect on weekends and show
your teen that there is a whole world out there that doesn’t require a handheld screen. She may miss her phone a lot
less than she thinks she will and this is a very good lesson to learn.

It is valid because the article happened on January 22, 2020

It is accuratebecause it comes from the reliable sources and proven by the doctors. They conducted a research and they
prove it that social media has a huge impact to mental health of students.