DEAR EDITOR:

Social media has grown to become a huge aspect in the lives of many across the globe. According to the National Library of Medicine, social media use by youth is nearly universal. Up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.” (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)

Young people have become the main consumers of social media, which makes them most susceptible to the problems that arise from it. Social media increases risks of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and low self-esteem due to social comparison and cyberbullying. The developing mind can also develop some bad habits that can be tough to break as they grow up.

Social media interactions, such as likes, comments and shares, trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure, making these activities reinforcing and encouraging users to repeat them. This is one way that social media can begin to develop addictive behaviors.

Another big issue a lot of young men are experiencing is the exposure to pornographic material that is unavoidable on most social media platforms. Teenage boys don’t have enough wisdom to process these complex feelings, and this is leading to higher rates of addiction, which creates a world of problems as they grow into adulthood. Access to such content is in the hands of anyone of any age who has access to a smart device which is what most kids have nowadays.

As a YSU nursing student, I would like to bring light to the subject as it is a newer issue that doesn’t get talked about enough. It is such a big problem because almost every young person has a phone and access to any social media of their choice. Young people need to be educated on the significance of social media and it’s damaging effects on the mind. Young men need to be educated on the risks of engaging in explicit content, and the parents need be able to moderate the exposure to avoid it.

Young people are not safe behind a screen, and being such a vulnerable population, they need to be protected. I have already begun my part in spreading the word about the dangerous effects of social media on the adolescent population to some friends, but I would like this information to be more well known so that we can protect the future of our nation.

MICHAEL GALTERIO

Youngstown