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L.A. 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY: Does social media affect someone's mental…
L.A. 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY:
Does social media affect someone's mental health?
My Opinion: Does it?
Yes
[extended note] Though i do have a social media account, i value internet safety and make sure not to involve myself in things that could harm myself or others.
Paragraphs
Introduction
Thesis
Although we might consider social media to be simple at first glance, things such as increased mental health issues driven to extents of self harm, could show how social media can affect a person exponentially.
Social Media affects mental health in a number of ways which include, enabling cyber-bullying across all platforms, the negative results that can lead from different posts, and toxic communities at every corner.
Hook
We might consider the concept of social media to be simple- talk to people, post things, find friends with the same interests, but when toxic people poison these platforms- increased mental health issues taken to extents of self harm can show how social media can harm more than help.
Do you have one social media account? Whether it be Instagram, Twitter, etc. But how could something that is so praised as a way of expression be so bad as to enable 10% of teens to endure cyber-bullying that could lead to even more negative results? (
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm
)
History and Background
Facebook (created and launched in 2004) at the time dominated over its competitors because it encouraged its users to use their real names.They also came with an anti-animated GIF policy which then ignited new platforms to create such things which were then reinstated in platforms. e.g. Facebook, Twitter (at the time as how it was created and launched in 2006) (
https://buffer.com/resources/history-of-social-media/#:~:text=The%20first%20'social%20network',be%20the%20first%20social%20network
.)
The first social media platform was created in 1997- Six Degrees (still currently active) was a platform where users could create profiles and message other users. It sparked social media sites much more successful such as Facebook. (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SixDegrees.com
)
Specialized Information
Statistics: 7% of teens have explicit images of themselves sent/posted without consent and 25% of teens are sent explicit images.
Statistics over Time: 2013-2015 depression in males increased by 21% and in females 50%. In 2015 92% of teens and young adults owned a smartphone to which amplified this. In a study done in 2017 of grade 8-12 students found that depressive symptoms increased by 33% in 2010-2015.
Statistics over Time [extended]: It was also found that suicide rates for females in this general age group had gone up by 65%. Worst is that child suicide percentage had gone up by 150% and self harm in 10-14 year old females had been tripled.
Reference for Specilized information:
https://etactics.com/blog/social-media-and-mental-health-statistics#:~:text=Spending%20more%20than%203%20hours,high%20usage%20of%20social%20media
.
Body
1st Argument: Being an Enabler for Cyber-bullying and its Results
Although any kind of bullying will leave an effect the targeted person or people, cyber-bullying can be even more brutal when the inflicting party is anonymous. Perhaps so, but there is no doubt about the negative effects. Social media platforms can't always regulate what its users post which is understandable but, there are policies in place to ensure the safety of others. But when these polices are overlooked by said users, it can let people to harm others (in most cases) without fail.
Cyber-bullying can have reasons behind why the inflicting party chooses to continue their actions, however the effects they can leave behind can be far worst. Different things such as physical issues, higher chances for mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and more, can build up to these victims doing worse in school, have lower self esteem, endure in-person bullying, to even the extent of usage of drugs and alcohol. (
https://americanspcc.org/impact-of-cyberbullying/
)
Cyber-bullying can spread to normal life as well. Over media where people can go by many different aliases, teasing, harassment, threats, and other forms of cyber-bullying, can bleed into a child or teens life. Many extreme cases of attacks resulting from cyber-bullying can end in someone taking their own life. Sometimes this cycle doesn't stop and children, teens, anyone can be harmed by someone over media in their usual lives if they aren't careful. (
https://helpyourteennow.com/the-dangers-of-cyberbullying-can-spread-farther-than-the-device/
)
2nd Argument: How Posting Unknowingly can Affect Others Negatively
Editing can also play a big factor. If someone edits their photos drastically compared to the original, it can lead a false narrative to someone else.
Selfies is one of the sure-fire ways we consider that we can express ourselves. However posting these pictures, can harm people even without us thinking about it. People can develop self-esteem issues if they see that someone posted themselves and consider that they might look better than themselves, it can drastically bring someone's self esteem down.
3rd Argument: Anything can Pass the Speed of Light on the internet- Especially Toxicity
Gossip with no backed up evidence is something common found, pretty much everywhere. If something sounds true, many of us will most likely believe it either based of pre-existing beliefs
A simple rumour can spread across the globe when people hear something that could sound true. Especially if coming from a public figure. Although many celebrities know the weight for opinion they have on their fans, other might but abuse this power dynamic.