Impact of social media on young minds

“Hello! Are you available on WhatsApp? Only then can I consider you mine! I promise to send you flowers and messages every morning. I’ll constantly update my profile picture to show you how great I look. But, are you using WhatsApp?”

Welcome to the modern era! Our planet Earth is home to approximately 7 billion people, and thanks to social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Messenger, and Instagram, we are all connected. These platforms have made our lives more convenient and faster. With just a click, we can share our thoughts and opinions with the entire world. However, let’s pause and reflect on the authenticity of these connections.

Do these virtual connections truly bring us happiness in real life? Are children as physically active as they were 10 to 15 years ago? Are we genuinely engaging with people we meet face-to-face? It’s important to consider the impact of platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which are like heavily populated countries, while Twitter has turned everyone into news reporters. Instead of focusing on whether someone is awake or asleep, we now tend to determine their status based on whether they are online or offline.

For today’s youth, an important decision revolves around choosing between Android, Windows, or Apple. It’s worth noting that while we may forget to eat, sleep, or smile, updating our social media status remains a top priority. We claim to be “connecting” with people from around the world, but we often find ourselves disconnected from those who are physically present and genuinely care about us. The number of followers on Instagram or Facebook has become more important than the number of true friends we have.

A concerning issue we face is that children spend an average of 5 to 6 hours per day online, which should be a cause for alarm. However, we still have the power to regain control over our lives instead of being controlled by social media. Let’s not miss out on precious moments by constantly gazing at our cell phones. In this fast-paced digital world, it’s absolutely fine to have a low battery on your phone, but it’s even better to have a genuine smile on your face.