Social Media and the Downfall of Society

Social media is a worldwide phenomenon, in which people connect over the internet and the world wide web. The internet is usually used to post funny videos, but something lies underneath that not many people seem to talk about: never-ending scrolling, memes, and brain rot. It is becoming such a problem, that people’s attention span is decreasing almost every single day due to these short videos that people consume. It’s becoming a huge problem in classes and at home.

Not only does social media influence the behavior of students and children, it can influence the way people think and how they do things. If vulnerable people witness something harmful, they can end up doing those sorts of things that influencers do to get fame. The whole reason why people do horrible things and post them is because others gain traction from these sorts of things. 

Many different social media sites and apps can also support harmful activities to younger children. One was the “Tide-Pod” challenge, in which the people who contribute to this challenge sink their teeth in a tide-pod. This doesn’t just end here, though; there was also the disastrous “Nyquil Chicken,” which was also proven to be a lethal challenge. Many of these so-called “challenges” end up killing people, especially children. 

Also, social media can cause more harm than good because of cyberbullying. This has been a problem for quite a while on the internet. It’s almost like people forget that the people they speak to on social media are human, too. Most might not like to talk about this, but there are indeed multiple cases of extreme cyberbullying and the effects it has on the victims. These victims are usually kids or teens who are just trying to express themselves. Said victims can feel isolation, depression, and thoughts that can cause harm. Said Anna, a freshman at Amory High School, “Social media is one of those things that I try to stay away from… sometimes it’s too crazy.”

Not all social media, though, can be harmful to others. Usually, it can contain memes and other entertaining aspects that are typically harmless. Some posts on social media can be mentally beneficial to many who use it, such as liking someone’s post and engaging with online social circles. It is way easier to communicate online rather than in real life for some, but this very tight-knit community online may not always be the safest. 

Safety online is incredibly important now more than ever. There are many people with malicious intent out there in this world. Most of them target the younger population because they are more gullible and malleable. It is a very important matter that parents should look for in their kids–to see if they have experienced anything online that could potentially endanger them. 

That is why I find it mandatory that the internet should be restricted for people who are not mentally well and should be restricted for children. Although the internet can be a fantastic tool, it can also be dangerous in the wrong hands. That is why we need stricter laws and more awareness raised if we are to use the internet (and social media) more effectively.