The Digital Divide
BY NHI VUONG
Do you use social media? By 2020, more than half of the population was using social media. We use it so frequently in our daily lives, often forgetting the impact it can have on different individuals. Because we use it every day, it can be hard for people who don’t use social media. Nearly all American teens use social media regularly, spending about 5 hours a day on these platforms. The New York Times has recently surveyed 1,006 Gen Z adults (ages 18–17) on their opinions on social media. About 60% of participants spend about 4 hours a day on these platforms, and 23% spend about 7+ hours a day on social media. Respondents recognize the harm social media causes to society; 60% say it has a negative impact on users, and 29% said it has hurt them personally. 32% of the survey takers said it had a positive impact on users, and 52% said it benefited their lives. Significantly more women said it negatively impacted their emotional health.
It is noticed that social media can cause many risks, such as:
- Sleep deprivation
- Body dysmorphia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal thoughts
Social media causes more harm to more than 1 out of every 10 of its younger users, and many older users don’t think these platforms are suitable for children. Social media allows people to chat with one another, create online communities, exchange ideas, and share content. Unfortunately, it can also be used for cyberbullying and can cause many negative effects.
Cites – https://www.nytimes.com/
