New and digital media week 2 (ii)

Social media is harming the mental health of teenagers. The state has to act

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/16/social-media-mental-health-teenagers-government-pshe-lessons

 

Social  networking sites have had huge pressures on teenagers these days. Teenagers are constantly on them and are addicted to it. A study showed that teenagers who engage in social media during the night could be damaging their sleep and increasing their risk of anxiety and depression. It also said that teenager spoke about how they had to be available 24/7, resulting in anxiety if they do not respond to texts or posts immediately. They are so emotionally addicted to these sites that if they wake up during the middle of the night, they will log on, to make sure they don't miss out on anything, Its becoming more and more obvious how the pressures of social media is disprportionatley affecting teenage girls.

• Teenagers need 9.5 hours of sleep each night but on average receive only 7.5 hours. 
• Children younger than 15 year olds are addicted   
• Girls are more likely to seek comfort on social media when worried rather than someone in person 
• Girls stress twice as more than boys a week 
• A lack of sleep can make teenagers tires, irritable, depresses and more liekly to catch colds, flu and gastroenteritis.  

In my opinion, i think that teenagers are becoming extremely addicted to these social networking sites as i always see students and children on their phones taking selfies or checking the newest updates and messages on their phones, Some even stay up really late at night just by being on their phones. A phone should only really be used for calls and texts for emergency's or contacting family/friends/people for needed things.