Effects of Social Media Use on Teenagers

◎供稿：Juno

社交媒體就在我們身邊，無論我們多么試圖忽視它，它已經滲透到我們的社會結構中。社交媒體是許多青少年生活的重要組成部分。但是，社交媒體的使用對青少年有什么影響呢？

Social media is a tool for gathering information

Social media has become a source of information and news for many teens.Once they begin social networking，they can follow just about anyone with a social media account.From authors and athletes to celebrities，chefs，nonprofit organizations，they are connected to all sorts of information.By staying on social media，teenagers know more about global happenings and issues affecting the world.

Social media reduces feelings of isolation

A study published in 2015 found that even though teens have fewer friends than teens did a decade ago，they still report feeling less lonely than their1)counterpart [?ka?nt?pɑ?t] n.職位；對應的事物counterpartsand feeling less isolated.Researchers suggest that the difference is social media and technology.This research also suggests that teens are developing stronger social skills due to social media use.Through social media，teens learn the other methods of online communication，this makes them better communicators in an increasingly digital world.

Social media allows for personal expression

Whether teens enjoy singing，writing，or acting，they can share these talents with the world around them.Providing this avenue of selfexpression is important for teens.There is a direct connection between self-expression and self-confidence.When teens are given avenues for being2)authentic [???θent?k] adj.真正的；真實的authenticand true to themselves，they become content with who they are and happier overall.

Social media use can also negatively affect teens

The act of3)scroll [skr??l] v.滾動；卷動scrollingthrough media can significantly impact the amount of physical activity or face-to-face conversation in which a teen engages.In addition，the teenagers are viewing on social media (e.g.，violence，4)cyberbully [?sa?b?rb?li] n.網絡暴力cyberbullying) and how it is5)internalize [?n?t?:n?la?z] v.使內在化internalized(e.g.，treatment of others，self-worth) can be troublesome.Teenagers may experience negative interactions on social media，for example a post may not be“liked” enough，there may be a lapse in response times，or they may be involved in cyberbullying，these negative interactions can impact6)adolescent [??d??lesnt] adj.青少年期的adolescentmental health.Sometimes loss of sleep，feelings of hopelessness，and negative thoughts are some of the negative outcomes associated with youth social media use.

Social media and its use by teenagers is a double-edged sword.While it offers many benefits，one cannot deny its many frailties too.

社交媒體是收集信息的工具

社交媒體已成為許多青少年收集信息和新聞的來源。一旦他們開始社交網絡，他們就可以關注任何一個擁有社交媒體賬號的人。從作家、運動員到名人、廚師、非營利性組織，他們與各種信息相關聯。通過關注社交媒體，青少年可以更多地了解影響世界的全球事件和問題。

社交媒體減少孤立感

2015年發表的一項研究發現，盡管青少年的朋友比十年前的青少年的朋友少，但他們的孤獨感比同齡人少，他們也不覺得自己被孤立。研究人員認為，不同之處在于社交媒體和技術。這項研究還表明，由于社交媒體的使用，青少年正在發展更強的社交技能。通過社交媒體，青少年學習其他在線交流方法，這使他們在日益數字化的世界中成為更好的溝通者。

社交媒體允許個人表達

無論青少年喜歡唱歌、寫作還是表演，他們都可以與周圍的世界分享這些才能。提供這種自我表達的途徑對青少年來說很重要，自我表達和自信之間存在直接聯系。當青少年被給予做真實的自己和展示自己的途徑時，他們會對自己滿意，并且總體上更快樂。

社交媒體的使用也會對青少年產生負面影響

長時間瀏覽媒體的行為會顯著減少青少年參與體育活動或進行面對面交流的次數。此外，青少年在社交媒體上觀看的內容（如暴力、網絡欺凌等）及其內化方式（如對待他人、自我價值）可能會導致麻煩。青少年可能會在社交媒體上經歷負面互動，例如，一個帖子可能不夠多“贊”，消息回復延遲，或者可能卷入網絡欺凌，這些負面的互動會影響青少年的心理健康。青少年使用社交媒體有時也會導致失眠、產生絕望感和消極的想法。

社交媒體的使用對青少年是一把雙刃劍，雖然它提供了許多好處，但人們也不能否認它的許多不利之處。