In the 21st century, social media has become an integral part of many people’s lives, especially teens. Social media has affected teen girls in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side, social media helps girls connect with their peers, share ideas, and spread hope. On the negative side, it can lead to cyberbullying, body image issues, or depression. To further understand these impacts, I interviewed people in my new media class and looked up people’s experiences towards social media. 

First, I want to acknowledge that social media can be a positive experience for teen girls, allowing them to make new friends, share experiences, and engage with their peers that were not possible before social media. Not only has it allowed them to connect with people around the world, but it also provided them with an avenue to express themselves and find support. It has also enabled them to discover their own interests, build new skills, and explore potential career paths. In addition, social media has provided a platform for teens to discuss important issues, such as bullying and mental health, in a safe space. All in all, social media has been an invaluable tool for helping teen girls stay connected, informed, and empowered.

However, there are a lot of negatives. For example, all of the photoshopped images, unrealistic standards of beauty, and pressures to look and act a certain way can be a source of body issues. Teen girls are constantly exposed to images of unrealistic body types, often leading them to compare themselves to this unrealistic ideal. This can lead to negative self-talk and low self- esteem. Social media can also be a space for body shaming where people are judged and criticized for their body shape and size. This can be especially damaging for teenage girls who are already struggling with body issues. This can lead to feelings of embarrassment, shame, and isolation.

An anonymous source said that social media has impacted her because she compares herself to other people’s lives. She said, “ I look at people on the internet and compare myself to them. Even though people are photoshopped and have filters on, it starts to make me really insecure.” Another anonymous source said, “social media makes me more self-conscious and gives me body dysmorphia and makes me not want to have certain apps. Because those apps have an emphasis on exploiting my body, and people one those apps have bodies that only look a certain way. This has made me insecure about the shape of my body and sizes of my body, making me compare myself to others and that makes it worse.” As I said, social media is most of the time a negative experience. Social media has impacted people’s body image and made them talk bad about themselves and talk about low self-esteem. 

Social media cyberbullying is a huge problem for teens, too. It can be used to harass, embarrass, or intimidate someone. Cyberbullying can take many different forms, such as negative comments, gossip, or even sharing embarrassing photos or videos. It can be especially damaging to teen girls, as they are often more vulnerable to bullying and can be deeply affected by it. An anonymous source from my new media class said, “It’s easy to be mean when you’re an unknown author. There’s a lot of people who wouldn’t have the cajónes to say in person what they do online. But you can’t listen to somebody you don’t even know. Opinions of your friends and family matter, but you can’t listen to somebody who is nobody to you.” Another anonymous source from the internet said, “Unless and until our society recognizes cyber bullying for what it is, the suffering of thousands of silent victims will continue.”

It can be overwhelming for some, leading to depression. Depression is a mental health condition characterized by feelings of sadness, loss, and anger that can last for an extended period of time. It is a serious mental disorder that can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life. One anonymous source from the internet said, “Depression is like a heaviness that you can’t ever escape. It crushes down on you, making even the smallest of tasks seem like a hundred-pound weight.” This quote really touched me because it shows how depression can really be a big change in someone’s life. One other anonymous source from the internet said, “The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much and forgetting that you are special too.” Social media starts to give you some depression because it causes people to compare themselves to others. There are also bullies on the internet that can bring you down. 

Social media can be a powerful tool for people to express themselves, stay connected, and build relationships. However, it can also have a negative effect on self-esteem, body image, and mental health. It’s important for teen girls to be mindful of the way they use social media and to limit their exposure to negative messages and behaviors.