I believe that technology, such as social media has affected our generation in many negative ways. In some ways social media has benefitted us, it keeps us updated and connected, and can be useful for advertising .But personally use I feel that it is overused and harmful. We have televisions, laptops, smartphones, computers, tablets, and internet access everywhere we go. That may all seem wonderful, and is viewed as technological success. But is it really? I have some facts that’s might make you stop and think. The effects of social media on teens are theses; Psychological health problems, physical health problems, and Cyber bullying.
       Social Media has affected teens psychologically in so many ways. In social media teens see movie stars, models, and singers and naturally teens see their glamorous lifestyles, mixed in with the arrests, drugs, drinking, partying, and that has become the model of beauty and success. Teens seek popularity and admiration like they see on social media.  They want the perfect body, dress in the latest fashions, be in the right relationship, and in some cases drinking and smoking harmful substances. They feel like the only way that they can fit in is to do the things they are told by music, television, and internet. Some teens can be popular and fit in, but others are left behind. They develop depression, social anxiety, bi-polar disorder, and multiple personality disorder, just to name a few; all of these can lead to suicide.
      Suicide is one of the top three causes of deaths for teens and young adults. For every teen that commits suicide there are a hundred more who have attempted suicide. 4,400 teen take their life each year. This statistic has tripled since the 1970’sand 80’s. They feel that they can’t fit in to the model society has projected on their phones, and TV’s, and the internet. Teens don’t feel that they can be themselves, and even those who others find to be perfect model of society still suffer. They can develop all the same insecurities and disorders that those who aren’t “perfect”. These are not problems that our parent’s generation faced so immensely.
      Another effect of the image posted by social media is physical problems. How many times have you gone on Facebook or Instagram and seen posts or pictures that promote smoking, drinking, bullying, and having the perfect body? They are everywhere. Teens suffer from eating disorders, loss of sleep, and self-harm. Eating disorders can often developed from looking at the perfect size zero models, actresses with the perfect bodies, and anyone posted who is considered to have a perfect body. 86% of teens have reported unhealthy dieting such as purging, smoking, and skipping meals. 43% of 1st and 2nd graders wish they were thinner. In a survey of 185 female students 58% felt pressured by media to be thinner. 44% were a healthy weight. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any other mental illness. One in seven teens who develop a long term eating disorder, will eventually die from it. Often teens that develop this disorder also develop extreme self-hate for themselves and their bodies. They cut, burn, pinch, and bruise themselves. One in twelve teens commit self-harm on a regular basis. Teens who commit self-harm are one hundred times more likely to commit suicide than those who don’t. The self-harm rate has tripled in the last thirty years. Social media also has a huge impact on teens sleep. 70% of teens report staying up late at night using technology. Lack of sleep is detrimental to grades, work, and mood.
        The ability to have contact with anyone at any time has also brought into life a whole new type of bullying that wasn’t even possible thirty years  ago. Cyber bullying. Cyber bullying affects 43% of students.  Students are bullied with damaging photos posted to the web, hateful comments concerning weight, looks, interests, and race.  All teens are aware of cyber bullying and have witnessed it on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, and Ask.fm. Cyber bullied victims are 9% more likely to commit suicide. They are often also prone to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, and eating disorders. Cyber Bullying is a new type of bullying that has only been around for the past decade.
      I feel that technology has been very harmful and is affecting our generation. While it has been used for some good, and is often convenient to have in a household, it has had terrible affects that were not problems when technology hadn’t been invented.