It is no secret that Gen Z is often associated with technology. The many additions to computer softwares and new innovations in technology have paved the way for a variety of great opportunities when it comes to developing more complex and engaging ways to use our phones. While technology has given mankind new and fascinating methods of communication and entertainment, the biggest concern that many people around the world have about technology is the effect of social media. To better understand how the WFS community uses social media, a poll was sent out to the upper school with the intent of gathering information about social media usage among Friends students. The poll accumulated a total of 81 responses and has led us to a better understanding of the effect social media has among our school.
Social media is a practice that the majority of American youth indulge in, with the average daily usage among teenagers being 4.8 hours for boys, and 5.1 hours for girls. On average, Gen Z, people from age 12 to 27, spend 49 hours a week consuming online content or media, (which is a bigger time investment than working a full time job). This data reveals that the endless rabbit hole of content sucks up time faster than people realize or care to acknowledge. One anonymous upper school student who answered the poll states “I’m so grateful that our school doesn’t allow phone use. I had a close friend come visit from another state last year and she remarked to me how awesome it was to see kids joking around and having fun with each other instead of being glued to their phones.” The student goes on to say, “I think we’re too scared to admit that social media can waste our life away”.
While social media is without a doubt an accessible way to connect with friends and find communities of your own, it is by no means not harmless either. Human Health and Dynamics teacher Amy Hess says, “The most dangerous thing about social media is the association that researchers are seeing between high social media use and negative mental health.” Hess says, “Researchers see higher rates of anxiety and depression especially among teenagers who excessively use social media.” Studies from trusted universities and organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of California show there are sources from many corners of social media that contribute to the surge of anxiety and depression among American kids. Upper school student Micah Davenport ‘27 says “I think social media has a really bad effect on people’s perception of themselves. Influencers show their audience a very small portion of their lives, enough to make people think they are seeing the full picture, when in reality they aren’t. This makes the viewer think that their life is much worse than the influencer’s. This causes feelings of envy and leaves the viewer feeling dissatisfied and unhappy with their life.”
The portrayal of beauty standards in social media is also a huge source of envy among young people. Fake filters and heavily edited photos turn normal looking people into images of perfection. Based in a society where physical appearance can seriously affect a person’s self-worth, the phenomenon of fake flawless faces that we see online can deeply affect a person’s confidence in their appearance where they previously had no problem whatsoever.
Although it may seem like society is at a dead end when it comes to fighting the less positive effects of social media, many teens who use social media practice self awareness and are willing to admit its flaws and acknowledge the habits it creates among individuals. Silas Montana ‘25 says “I’m badly addicted to watching hilarious Instagram reels. I’m ashamed to say that it has become second nature for me to pull out my phone and watch my reels when I get bored”. He goes on to say “I’m too afraid to look at my screen time because I know it’s going to be absurd”. Another high school student, LT Alleyne ‘26 comments “Why are people coming up to me saying skibbi rizzler? We need help”. The fact that many social media users are willing to admit its negative effects on society has given many people hope that self awareness hasn’t been completely lost. It is encouraging to see that teens are still willing to call out the absurdity of some of the things that come out of the apps we use.
Social media has without a doubt raised its fair share of red flags in the world, but it is definitely not a completely negative addition to society. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat have opened up ways to communicate with friends and family like never before. Mia Davenport ‘25 says “While I am definitely addicted to Instagram, it really allows me to connect with my friends who are away in college right now.” Another student offers a similar opinion, saying “Social media offers teens a platform to connect with friends, build relationships, and explore different identities.” The student goes on, saying “It also allows us to engage with people across the globe, giving us exposure to many diverse perspectives and ideas.”
While there are countless sources that support the positives and negatives of social media, the thing to remember is to make sure we exercise our self control. Society will stay strong as long as people check themselves and make sure they are doing the right things for both themselves and those around them.
