Some people love to trek mountain trails or go to salsa dance classes. But for most cohorts, watching stuff on Instagram or TikTok is a favorite pastime. Bite-sized, engaging videos on TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram offer instant gratification and keep users hooked.
Amid this innate desire to catch the latest viral trend or look at dancing dogs, safety is taking a backseat. Scrolling through social media might be a good pastime, but the platforms aren’t as safe as you think. It’s a bad place, especially for teens.
Social media took the life of Becca Schmill, the daughter of Deb Schmill. She took fentanyl-laced drugs at the age of 18. Fentanyl might have caused her to die, but it was social media that made it easy for her to access the drug.
That said, we’ll explore why social media may not be the safest place for teenagers.
#1 A Breeding Ground for Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is a serious issue. The relentless online harassment Jelly Roll, an American singer and rapper, faced for his weight made him quit social media. When someone as famous as Jelly isn’t safe from cyberbullying, how can your teenager be?
A report published by WHO disclosed that one in six teens aged 11 to 15 was bullied online in 2022. This research highlights how widespread cyberbullying is.
Just because cyberbullying takes place online, some think it is easier to tune out and isn’t as hurtful as in-person bullying. That isn’t the case, however. It’s worse than traditional bullying.
Cyberbullying provides bullies anonymity. As online interactions happen behind the screen, bullies can hide their identity using fake profiles and say things that they might never dare to in person. They bombard teens with threatening messages or hurtful comments.
A study says younger teens bullied online are twice as likely to display disordered eating symptoms. Those include eating only low-calorie food and worrying about weight gain.
#2 Contributor to Mental Health Issues
Open any social media platform—be it Facebook or Instagram—and you’ll see everyone’s best moments. Someone might be vacationing in Dubai, another sharing flawless selfies, and someone else flaunting a luxury purse.
These posts might appear harmless, but they create unrealistic standards for teens. Before they even realize it, they start comparing their lives with others. This constant comparison triggers feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. Constantly comparing themselves to others, TorHoerman Law explains, can also erode confidence and self-esteem in teens.
A slew of lawsuits are filed against Meta for harming young people’s mental health. Dozens of states, including New York and California, have filed the Instagram and Facebook lawsuit in federal court in California.
The lawsuits allege that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, intentionally built features that would harp on the vulnerabilities of young users. Those features, the suit further claims, include “likes” and social comparison features that Meta knows would harm young users.
#3 Misdirect to Risky Behaviors
Teens seeking new, exciting experiences is nothing new. Trying out new things, the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent says, is an essential part of learning for adolescents. But this pursuit isn’t always good. It can misdirect them to risky behaviors.
A new study has found a link between social media use and risky behavior among students. Amrit Kaur Purba, a Ph.D. postdoctoral researcher, and her team found that daily use of platforms like TikTok increases the risk of engaging in risky behaviors in students. That includes drug use and alcohol use.
Celebs play a major role in normalizing substance use. Cardi B, Drake, and Justin Beiber consistently post photographs of themselves drinking and getting high on various social media platforms.
Constant exposure to such content can desensitize them, making risky choices seem more acceptable. They might even feel pressured to join in, fearing being left out or seen as uncool if they don’t participate.
#4 Attractive Targets for Online Predators
There has been an alarming increase in online predators. Nearly 500,000 online predators are active every day in the U.S. The FBI reports that more than 50% of online sexual exploitation victims are children between 12 and 15 years of age.
Teens are attractive targets for online predators because they are often more trusting and vulnerable during this stage of life. They may be more willing to engage with strangers online, especially if the predator presents themselves as someone relatable or understanding.
Predators can lure teens into dangerous situations. Over 25% of all reported exploitation occurrences involve an internet predator asking a child for sexually explicit images of themselves.
Overall, social media platforms aren’t inherently bad. They allow teens to explore their interests, express themselves, and connect with like-minded people. But social media usage comes with its risks.
You must take proactive steps to mitigate those risks. Set healthy boundaries around social media use. Talk openly about online safety with your teen. Encourage outdoor play to reduce their screen time. All this will help create a more balanced and safe online experience for teens.
