Page 17 - The Regent Digest Volume 14 Issue 05
P. 17
YEAR 8 VOLTA SERVICE LEARNING
SCROLLING SMART: FINDING BALANCE ONLINE
The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health by Ahmad Naibi, Nardeen Year 8 Volta
ocial media has become central to students, I made simple mistakes that cost
teen life. Apps like Instagram, TikTok, me valuable marks.” Her story shows how
Sand Snapchat allow young people to easily social media habits can affect health
connect, share creativity, and find supportive and performance.
communities. For many, it offers belonging
and self-expression. The solution is not to delete social media
but to use it wisely. Parents can encourage
However, the downsides are clear. screen-free times, schools can teach
Cyberbullying can spread quickly online, digital literacy, and teens can take control
leaving lasting emotional scars. Constant by curating positive content and setting
comparisons to “perfect” posts often lead healthy limits.
to anxiety, low self-esteem, and even
depression. Late-night scrolling also disrupts As Dr Jean Twenge, author of iGen, explains:
sleep, creating a cycle of stress and fatigue. “Social media isn’t inherently good or
bad. What matters is how much and how
One student shared her experience: “There it’s used.” With balance, it can remain a
was a time when I stayed up scrolling instead tool for connection rather than a source of
of sleeping before an exam. I was exhausted, harm.”
and even though I’m usually one of the top
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL 17
