Social media can be found basically anywhere — after all, almost everybody uses it.  Because it’s become such a staple in our everyday lives, people are questioning its impact on society, especially on teenagers. 

   The American Academy of Pediatrics, or the AAP, stated, “A large part of this generation’s social and emotional development is occurring while on the internet and cell phones. Because of their limited capacity for self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure, children and adolescents are at some risk as they navigate and experiment with social media.”

     According to a survey by the Warrior, 98 percent of students at Penn-Trafford High School use social media and around 80 percent use it every single day.

     The three trendiest social media platforms at P-T are Snapchat, Instagram and Tiktok — however, Snapchat is by far the most popular, with about 20 percent of surveyed students using it.

   The Pa. State Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, said he has been concerned about the possible negative impacts that social media could have on the youngest residents of Pa. Shapiro is investigating the impact these apps have on society. Shapiro cited whistleblower reports from within Facebook’s company — now called Meta — as evidence for concern.

     “Meta’s own internal research shows that using Instagram is associated with increased risks of physical and mental health harms on young people,” said Shapiro.

     Shapiro also said, “We must do more to keep our children safe online … Social media companies have a responsibility to keep their users safe and disclose risks associated with their platforms.”

     While they continue to use these apps, P-T students that were surveyed said that they recognize the negative impact it may have on their lives and the lives of others. 

 

   An important area that is affected by constant social media usage is academics. Some students stated that social media distracts them from their studies, causing them to procrastinate or even turn in work late. 

     Several students detailed that finding and sharing answers online has become much easier with the various helpful websites and ways of communication.

     While the internet can be helpful, it can also become a tool for academic fraud. Assistant Principal Amy Horvat said that social media makes cheating much easier. 

     Some students stated that social media does not directly impact their school time. In fact, multiple students said that they do not have access to their phones or social media during the school day. 

     One reason for this may be the school’s network — while phones are unable to connect to Wi-Fi, students’ Chromebooks do not have access to many popular social media websites such as Instagram and some of YouTube.  

   Social media can also negatively affect students’ social interactions. Some students described that it may be more difficult to talk to one another in real life since it has become much easier to communicate online. This may also be due to the easy access to anonymity on the internet. 

     Junior Evan Del Signore described how important it is to express kindness when online. 

     “I think social media is a beneficial thing, as it allows people to communicate quickly and over long distances, but I think that people being mean and judgmental ruin a big part of it. If people weren’t as judgmental, I think social media would provide a much better atmosphere than what it currently offers,” DelSignore said. 

     The AAP stated, “Recent research indicates that there are frequent online expressions of offline behaviors, such as bullying, clique-forming and sexual experimentation, that have introduced problems such as cyberbullying, privacy issues and ‘sexting.’ Other problems that merit awareness include internet addiction and concurrent sleep deprivation.”

     P-T guidance counselor Hunter Owen said that the instant feedback that social media provides can cause addiction. Students will constantly check their accounts, which Owen said could become a negative distraction.

     Principal Tony Aquilio recommends students take some time to completely disconnect from social media to mentally recharge. Aquilio connected this idea to a personal experience where he left his phone in the car on a family hike. He said he felt that being disconnected from social media allowed him to enjoy the experience more.  

   In contrast, how does social media positively affect our teens academically? Students have said that social media may teach you about topics outside of the classroom. 

   However, while most students regarded this in a positive manner, there are some dangers that could come from alternate learning resources. For instance, students may learn about concepts that are factually inaccurate or be misinformed about certain topics. In addition, Apps such as Google and TikTok have become the hubs for spreading lesser-known information to teens and adults alike. 

   Students have detailed that social media allows them to communicate with their peers, ask questions regarding assignments or contact friends after having missed a day of school.

   “Middle and high school students are using social media to connect on homework and group projects.  For example, Facebook and similar social media programs allow students to gather outside of class to collaborate and exchange ideas about assignments,” said the AAP.

     Aquilio said that posting on social media allows the school to easily push information to both students and parents. Posts on Twitter not only reach students faster, but they have an overall greater reach than sending out an email or newsletter. 

     Social media was also said to have positively impacted P-T teens’ social interactions, according to the survey by the Warrior. Students have described that social media has been generally beneficial to their social life.

     For example, students’ bonds with their friends have been strengthened as they now have an easy way to communicate with friends right in their pocket — even when they are not together.

     Social media also allows students to talk to people that they may have never had the opportunity to previously meet. This can build new friendships and expand friend groups that already exist.

     Social media and the internet have had a large impact on Generation Z. Whether that impact is negative or positive, our generation has grown up with the internet and will continue to be in the coming years.

   Overall, students agreed that social media is what you make of it. Sophomore Damian Sopher said that it is heavily based on your own actions. 

     Sopher stated, “With the right self-discipline, I believe social media doesn’t have to be a bad thing academically, possibly even used to your advantage. The problem is, simply, that most students don’t have that self-discipline.”