Black hole of social media syphons light of engagement from student eyes

Social media: a tidal wave that has submerged the world's population into an electronic-driven society drowning in self-interest and fake lifestyles. Social media is called one of man's greatest creations, generating a new lifestyle in the modern world. Without a doubt, social media has changed the lives of many individuals, but it's happening for all the wrong reasons. 

A study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that the likelihood for a teenage boy or girl to commit suicide rose tremendously from 2009 to 2019. What might be a contributing  cause for this? Time spent on social media. 

Many individuals, adolescents especially, mindlessly scroll through their phones, looking at others' Instagram pages or TikTok videos, and create an image in their head of what a perfect lifestyle looks like. Naturally, our brains make connections to the problems we have in our lives and how others don’t seem to experience these same issues, leading to cases of depression and sadness.  

According to the BBC article "The fatigue hitting influencers as Instagram evolves," less than 50% of social media influencers are truly happy with their lifestyle. These are the same people that teenagers are looking up to. The people they aspire to be like. The people that they believe are living perfect lifestyles. But you’re telling me that not even these people are happy?

Social media is dictating our lives. Because of this, it is necessary to limit our screen time on social media to not only form more interpersonal relationships with one another, but to save our own mental health and prevent ourselves from falling into a deep, dark never-ending spiral of depression. Teenagers need to realize that social media is a cause of depression, that it is a cause of anxiety, and that it plays a major role in feelings of loneliness. 

Realizing the problem is a major step in the right direction, but actually taking action to solve the problem is even more important. With the National Center for Health Research reporting 45% of all adolescents admit to being online almost constantly, it is clear that there is a problem. But how do you stop using something that is as addictive as cocaine? It's simple, you stop. 

For many this is not as easy as it sounds. We often believe that social media is necessary for staying in touch with friends or needed to bond with others over different topics, but this just simply isn’t true. 

Rather than using social media as an outlet to stay connected with friends, society needs to find new ways to stay in touch with one another. Stop sending Snapchat streaks to your friends, pick up your phone and call them – yes, it is possible to make sound with your vocal cords rather than artificial messages with your thumbs. Make plans to meet in person, have lunch, take an art class together, volunteer together, but break the habit of picking up your phone and automatically going to social media. 

You will be surprised how much happier you will be with your life when you start spending more in person time with your friends. In comparison to sending a pointless Snapchat or reposting a fake unrealistic image on your Instagram, real social connections are significantly more fulfilling.

Our world has changed tremendously throughout the past 10 years, and who knows what will happen in the next decade. Maybe we will have flying cars or bridges that will go over the oceans connecting the seven continents. Many things will be created, and some things might be taken away, but one thing that will stay around for the rest of time is our personal connections with one another. 

Break the stigma of needing a social media account to stay connected. Stop worrying about what other individuals are doing on a daily basis. Eliminate this irrational fear of missing out in life and just be you. 

Put your phone down and live life in the moment, rather than attached to an unrealistic electronic platform that promotes narcissism and a hoax way of life. 

By John Munson

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue V

February 22. 2022