My generation (1997-2012) has grown up with the rise of social media. As social media continues to grow, there are more conversations about the damage it is doing to our generation. Here is an exploration of the pros and cons of social media.

Social media can have a lot of benefits. One of the biggest benefits is staying connected.Before social media, there was really no way of connecting and meeting people from across the world. Now, we can talk to anyone anywhere at the touch of a button. Being active on social media can keep you extremely involved in what’s going on locally, in our state, or nationally. 

 With as many pros that socials come with there are multiple downsides that are affecting us as teenagers growing up in the generation of media like, gossip and negativity. Stacy Hall art teacher at McPherson High School had a lot to say about how socials affect kids in real life. When I asked Hall if she sees any benefits in having social media and being on it constantly she said,” Not unless ur so absorbed in gossip and hearsay”. She does have a point, yes most of us use socials every day as a way of staying in touch with our friends and family, but the downside of that there are always people looking to spread negativity, and this can create a very toxic environment. 

They’re is a negative environment that can make social media seem very toxic, but there are also the mental effects that just being on social can have to our brains. Our attention span is very short compared to generations that didn’t grow up with apps like TikTok and Instagram where you scroll threw 60-second clips and if you get bored you can just scroll to the next. Hall said “Students are a lot less focused and have a shorter attention span, students also get frustrated with work easier and get anxious easier” 

There are pros and cons to anything but I think it is an even split of opinions on social media. Some people use it multiple times in their day and some could

never imagined spending time on socials, growing up with social media has made life easier. It’s easy to text my friends and go do something or talk to my family who don’t live here. 

   I do notice in myself a short attention span and get frustrated an impatient very easily. I do think it has mostly to do with being on social media for a good portion of my life. Social media has many benefits and I believe that it is a good thing that we have it, but I also believe that we should be more mindful of what we post or comment on online, I think my generation tends to forget that even when we’re online you’re still talking to a real human.