Name: Jazmin Lyka D.

Atienza
Grade & Section: 10-Fibonacci
Date: 04/06/2022

Does social media do more harm than good?

Social Media, as we all know, is what almost every single human

being has been entrapped in. It has a bunch of entertaining and educational
videos, memes, and so much more, that appeal to the majority of people.
According to Statista, the average daily social media usage of internet users
worldwide in 2022 amounted to 147 minutes, from 145 minutes the
previous year. The Philippines currently has the highest time spent on
social media per day, wherein each day, users spend an average of three
hours and 53 minutes on social media. In comparison, the average daily
time spent on social media in the United States was only two hours and
three minutes.
Many people enjoy social media, and some, such as influencers and
YouTubers, make a living from it. This has also allowed a lot of people to
enjoy a wide range of activities just by using their devices. This has been
our comfort and safe space, especially during this pandemic, as well as our
distraction from the ongoing spread of COVID-19. A report from We Are
Social and Hootsuite stated that there are 89 million social media users in
the Philippines as of January 2021. Furthermore, they saw a 22% growth in
the number of social media users in this country between 2020 and 2021.
This amounted to around 16 million new social media accounts being
created in the Philippines.
Despite the benefits, social media provides, it causes a lot of people to
suffer, particularly adolescents, because of the negative aspects such as
cyberbullying, inappropriate content, hateful posts, and so on, which can
cause anxiety, depression, and suicidality to individuals who have
encountered them, according to Child Mind Institute. The majority of
teenage girls (40%) and boys (20%) say they spend three or more hours per
day on social media. According to Pew Research Center, the majority of
Americans use YouTube and Facebook, while Instagram, Snapchat, and
TikTok are especially popular among individuals under 30. Based on the
report of Bella Fleps, social media may also harm your body image by
constantly exposing you to the ideal body type, causing you to compare
yourself to unrealistic standards. This could be attributed to the harmful
impact of social media on our mental health. It also weakens our bodies due
to a lack of exercise since we spend too much time on our devices instead of
going on a walk, enjoying the scenery nature has to offer, or even
exercising. According to a recent UCL-led study, teens' mental health or
wellbeing is compromised by their frequent use of social media, which
increases their vulnerability to bullying and reduces sleep and physical
activity.
Second, let's take a look at what social media has to offer in terms of
physical wellness. Although it is incredibly engaging and gives a variety of
platforms, we grow overly attached to our gadgets. That is, more than what
our eyes can take and the radiation from our electronics that we can absorb
into our bodies. Based on a review of research published up to 2011, the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorized RF
radiation as "probably carcinogenic to humans", finding a minimal
indication of an increased risk of brain cancer among mobile phone users.
Although minimal, the possibility is still there. Yes, gadgets are enjoyable to
use since they provide access to social media, but only in moderation. If we
continue to abuse our bodies to submerge ourselves in the depths of social
media, we will have a difficult time returning to reality, which will
undoubtedly have an impact on our health. Because we tend to bend our
heads and back when using devices, our posture will suffer as a result.
According to the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, this type of cell phone
usage can cause arthritis, nerve discomfort, migraines, and other
problems.
Now, let's tackle its effects on our mental health. Social media has a
lot to offer, including the ability to express one's opinion at any moment
with a click or a tap on the screen of our phones. But, given the prevalence
of public platforms on social media, it doesn’t always have a favorable
influence on the audience. An example of this would be the upcoming
election which has sparked a misunderstanding of different people's beliefs
and opinions. The countless fake news being spread across social media
and the opposing opinions might lead to negativity due to differences in
preferred candidates, which can have an impact on one's mental health.
According to Rappler, content with inflammatory and hostile attacks on
aspirants, opposition, and the media were removed from Facebook,
Twitter, and YouTube after generating massive views and engagement; and
Facebook and YouTube accounts that mimicked the practices of the media
and other institutions to appear credible. Negative statements made to an
opposing individual, such as discrimination based on intellectual capacity
and educational achievement, physical appearance, and even death threats,
can be considered examples of cyberbullying. According to the
cyberbullying statistics compiled by Ogi Djuraskovic, Instagram is the most
commonly used medium for cyberbullying, closely followed by Facebook
and Snapchat. Because the majority of children and young people use the
internet through their mobile devices, this is the most prevalent medium
through which they encounter this form of harassment. If not taken
carefully and seriously, being free has major repercussions. Even if you're
simply there to have fun and express yourself, there's a risk you'll become a
victim of these negativities, which might have a major impact on your
mental health. According to 2017 cyberbullying suicide data, internet
bullying increases suicidal thinking among victims by 14.5%. Furthermore,
according to Walden University, the influence of social media is
considerably stronger among younger people than among older people
since they use social media more regularly. Based on another source,
UNICEF, the latest national data in the Philippines show that cyber
violence affects nearly half of children aged 13-17, based on the National
Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines. Males are
44% more likely to engage in cyberviolence than females, who are 43% as
likely. This is because young individuals like to follow the trend, which
makes them more interested and invested. And, as I have previously stated,
social media is open to the public, and anything, even things beyond our
imagination, can be uploaded. As a result, there is a great likelihood that
people, particularly younger ones, will have come across inappropriate
content. Based on the statistics from GuardChild, 70% of children aged 8 to
18 have unintentionally discovered internet pornography, most commonly
by entering an innocent search phrase while completing their schoolwork.
31% of children aged 12 to 18 have lied about their age to gain access to a
website, and 90% of children aged 8 to 16 have viewed online pornography.
Lastly, let's take a look at the negativities of social media to our
relationship with our surroundings and peers. Social media is an excellent
tool for socializing since it is simple to use and more convenient than
sending letters or reading newspapers. According to data released by the
American Psychological Association, less than 20% of U.S. teens report
reading a book, magazine, or newspaper every day for enjoyment, but more
than 80% report using social media every day. We can also have freedom of
expression, which can help us build a good reputation among our peers.
Not only that, but we can utilize social media because of the countless
platforms it contains to publish about our surroundings and much more.
However, because of too much entertainment and convenience, we
sometimes take this for granted to the point that we may no longer have
time to explore our surroundings and interact with others. A median of
46% of Facebook users says they see few or none of their Facebook
"friends" in person on a regular basis, while just 31% see all or most of
them. We will become increasingly reliant on social media, which will
undoubtedly cause our lives to regress. Several studies have identified a
substantial correlation between excessive social media use and an increased
risk of depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidality.
Negative experiences such as inadequacy about your life or looks may be
fostered through social media. With all of these factors, our lifestyle might
become quite unhealthy and unproductive. Most of us have turned into
couch potatoes, which is harmful to the body, according to a lot of sources
such as the University of Birmingham. A lifestyle like this will undoubtedly
and gradually destroy us. But, like everything else, using social media is not
a terrible thing, if only in moderation. If specific people on social media
consistently provoke anger, jealousy, or other unpleasant emotions, don’t
follow them, Vanucci said on Wisconsin Public Radio. That way, she
explained, you may still receive updates without being exposed to as much
stuff that makes you nervous or uncomfortable.
Changing and controlling your time would be a good way to start.
That’s why, stop blinding yourself with social media and slowly but surely
reestablish your mind and sight to the beauty the world has to offer, which
can be accomplished by doing things that benefit our mental and physical
well-being, personally appreciating our surroundings and peers more,
which can surely and truly improve our lifestyle. According to the Mental
Health Foundation, nature can evoke a wide range of positive emotions,
including calmness, joy, creativity, and the ability to concentrate. Nature
connection is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health,
specifically lower levels of depression and anxiety.

May it be physically, mentally, or emotionally, social media has

always been eating us alive. Everything I've stated above will always be
obvious and true to people who use social media, even if there is no
readable evidence provided. This will always have an impact on our mental
and physical health, our relationships with our environment and peers, as
well as our lifestyle. And if we do not act now, it will be too late, and we will
certainly be regretful in the end. Social media may be very pleasing to us,
but it has the opposite impact on our entirety. To respond to the question,
"Does social media do more harm than good?" I have done my part, and I
fully anticipate your response to be, "Yes, social media does more harm
than good."