Over the past decade, the rise of social media has revolutionized our way of life and become an essential part of our culture. Although social media was designed to be easily accessible to everyone, regardless of age, the largest users are teenagers and young adults. Adolescence is crucial for mental development and many experts have expressed concern that social media use could stunt this growth. Since social media is still relatively new, there is no definitive evidence proving or disproving that excessive use can contribute to worsening mental health. Even without concrete evidence, some believe there could be possible links to anxiety, sleep disturbances, lowered self-esteem, feelings of loneliness and depression. However, some also claim that social media helps some cope with difficulties in their lives. While there are both positives and negatives, does social media ultimately cause more harm than good? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay A recent study showed that teenagers spend an average of almost nine hours a day using a variety of different media, but most notably social media. (Wallace, 2015). Nine hours is also the recommended amount of sleep for teens, but most only sleep six to seven hours. Lack of sleep can have very harmful effects not only on a person's mental health, but also on their physical health. Those who experience prolonged periods of sleep deprivation may experience unusual or worsened symptoms of anxiety and stress. It is not uncommon in our society to hear teenagers sacrificing hours of sleep to social media. Not only does using social media at night disrupt sleep patterns, but even prolonged exposure during the day can put teens at risk. The blue light emitted by phones prevents the brain from releasing melatonin, which is essential for sleep (Kim, 2014). An incredible number of young people today have spoken out about the constant pressure they feel from social media. Most aspects of social media revolve around sharing things about yourself and your life, but it can be presented in a way that makes it seem appealing when in reality, it's not as glamorous as it's made out to be. claims. Impressionable teens may then begin to compare their lives to those of others and feel embarrassed if they don't look a certain way. An online persona is almost never an accurate representation of that person's life, but only an exaggeration of the few interesting and exciting aspects of their life. The attention and approval people receive from their “friends” and followers is what leads them to become dependent on praise from their followers in order to feel accepted. Ultimately, it's a vicious cycle where someone tries to make others jealous because they're insecure. Social media has the capacity to do as much good as it does harm, it almost always depends on the individual and its responsible use. Online, many feel like it's easier to find people who are going through the same things as them and connect with people who understand them better than it is with people they know from life. real life. Many who feel alone and helpless in.