As part of our 2024–25 theme, Making Good Decisions, Healthy NewsWorks reporters are reflecting on what it means to make informed and healthy decisions across various aspects of their lives. One topic that students have addressed is social media and the decisions kids make about how and when they use it. Here are a few reporters’ perspectives on the way social media decisions affect their lives.
I always thought social media was a tool for connecting and staying informed about the world. I spend about five hours a day on social media, but I take breaks in between. Your emotions while using social media can change every day. It could be uplifting, then sad the next moment. A few months ago, I decided to cut back. I removed social media for a month and tried to spend more time with my family and nature.
—Sebastian Pagan Ramos
Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier
I have noticed that there are a lot of trends that come and go on social media. Once something becomes popular, everyone is copying it and then when it becomes old, people talk about others who are still doing what is no longer popular. There are a few pluses of social media. It can be used to promote a business, let people know about events that are happening in the city or neighborhood.
Social media can keep us informed about issues that are going on around the world. The minuses are that there are people who like to bully others on social media, some people want to push their negative views on to others and there has also been the wrong information put out about current issues. I would advise people to only be on social media for an hour or two, post things that will help people with their physical or mental health, and make sure that what they are posting or looking up has been fact-checked.
— Imami Pryce
DePaul Healthy Trailblazer Journal
Social media users tend to share only positive highlights of their perceived perfect lives, leading to comparisons with others, potential for cyberbullying, a prevalence of curated self-images, the spread of misinformation, addiction-like behaviors, and a significant impact on mental health. But social media also provides opportunities for connection, community building, and information sharing, depending on usage patterns. Some pros [of social media] are enhanced communication, networking opportunities, brand promotion, information sharing, and community building. Some cons are cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to content that is not age-appropriate. Some advice I’d give is to set limits on your screen time, curate your feed by unfollowing accounts that cause negativity, take regular breaks, prioritize real-life connections, turn off notifications, and be mindful of comparing yourself to others’ curated online presentations. Focus on using social media to connect with positive content and people that uplift you.
— Isaiah Barnes
DePaul Healthy Trailblazer Journal
Social media has had a huge impact on our generation. I tend to spend less than six hours a day on social media, which is very difficult because it gets very easy to lose track of time. I try to limit my time on social media by spending time with my family, playing soccer or basketball, or playing with my pets in our backyard. Doom scrolling on social media for hours makes me feel tired, bored, and lazy depending on the type of content that appears. Although I have tried to cut back on my screen time, I sometimes find it impossible to do. However, I know with dedication I can slowly drop my amount of screen time.
— Jesus Pina
Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier
