In modern-day pop culture, social media has become an integral part of many lives.
As technology continues to advance, its influence and effect on future generations continue to grow.
Whether it’s down to their abilities to communicate with one another, their behavior, or a factor yet to be considered, many failed to realize the effect social media has on children’s development.
Knowing social media’s role with the youth is integral in attempting to navigate through the benefits and challenges that come with it.
One challenge includes the links it has to mental health.
In 2025, people strive to look their best on social media and put the best version of themselves forward, thus creating an unrealistic expectation.
A standard that is almost impossible to maintain in real life.
Individuals, at times, become so focused on their appearance that it blinds them from another issue that stems from social media.
Furthermore, the more time spent on social media can impact social skills and emotional intelligence.
Our society is now entering a generation that features children who have never known a world without social media.
As social media usage amongst younger children has risen, so has the over-reliance on platforms such as Instagram, X (Formerly known as Twitter), Snapchat, etc.
This shift has led to a decline in social skills for this age group due to a lack of face-to-face interaction.
Consequences of younger children using social media extend beyond communication, as their personal information can also be at stake.
As social media advances, so does others’ ability to access private data, leading to breaches and the spreading of misinformation.
Something that could be viewed as harmless to an unknowing youthful eye could escalate into issues that could affect them for years to come.
Unfortunately, everything mentioned must be taken into consideration as we, as a society, head into the future.
While social media offers certain benefits, many agree that the negatives outweigh the positives.
Only through an effort to properly educate the generations to come will the issues be addressed that will be prominent sooner rather than later.
