Author: Unnati Manoj Parati Student at Manikchand Pahade Law College,Chh Sambhajinagar
Introduction
In today’s modern era, social media is a platform that has both advantages and disadvantages. The way you use it determines whether the impact will be positive or negative. At present, most youngsters are highly active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, where they make online friends and connect with new people. More than 90% of people use social media; some are using it to their advantage, becoming successful and learning many good things, while others misuse it and waste their time. Especially children are getting distracted from studies due to excessive use of social media and its addictive nature. If we look at it in a positive sense, social media can greatly help in studies, learning creativity, and developing one’s skills
Historical Background
Social media is a platform where people can stay connected with one another. In the early 2000s, with the rise of high-speed internet and affordable mobile data, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram emerged, attracting millions of users. Today, social media is not just a medium of communication but has evolved into a powerful ecosystem. It enables people to socialize, meet new individuals, learn new things, and explore various opportunities. At the same time, it has a significant influence on education, politics, mental health, and even the legal framework.
Positive Impact of social media on youth
Educational Opportunities
Because of social media, studying from home has become much easier. Platforms like YouTube help students understand difficult concepts more clearly. With the help of professors’ tutorials available online, learning has become more convenient. Social media also makes it easier for students to explore different careers and learn about various opportunities.
A real-life example is the COVID-19 pandemic, during which schools and colleges were completely closed. Yet, education continued smoothly at home because of social media, YouTube, and various online educational platforms. Social media has proven that it can be extremely helpful in the field of education. Millions of students are developing skills by joining online courses through social media.
Connectivity and Networking
Social media bridges geographical gaps, allowing youth to communicate with peers globally. Platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram enable people to share their ideas, collaborate with others, and develop new skills. Young individuals can showcase their talents, share their creativity, and both give and receive suggestions. Social media also enhances cultural awareness and helps improve communication skills by exposing users to diverse perspectives and global interactions.
Awareness and Advocacy
Youth today actively use social media to raise awareness about important social issues. Topics such as climate change, sexual and gender equality, caste discrimination, mental health, and environmental protection are widely discussed on digital platforms. Through campaigns, posts, and online movements, young people advocate for change and spread valuable information to a large audience.
Career and Skill Development
Professional platforms like LinkedIn allow youth to showcase their skills, highlight achievements, and develop new abilities. They can join different internships, learn new work skills, and gain hands-on experience. Through social media, young people can communicate with professionals, build strong networks, and connect with industry leaders. These platforms are excellent for job searching and internship opportunities. Additionally, for content creation, platforms like YouTube and Instagram offer great opportunities for digital careers and entrepreneurship.
Negative Impact of social media on youth
Addiction and screen time
Excessive screen time has become a major issue for children. Many young users have become irritable, restless, and stressed. Their eyes are affected due to long hours in front of screens, leading to early vision problems and the need for glasses at a very young age. This overuse also impacts the mind, reducing concentration and emotional stability. Gaming applications further lower patience levels, increase aggression, and negatively affect children’s future development. As a result, many students get distracted from studies and develop an unhealthy addiction to social media.
Mental Health Challenge
Social media is affecting the mental health of children and teenagers. It becomes difficult for them to focus, and issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) are becoming more common. These challenges can be harmful for their future growth. Due to constant online engagement, their concentration power decreases, making it even harder for them to stay attentive in studies or daily tasks.
Cyberbullying and Online Harrasment
The anonymity offered by social media platforms enables cyberbullying, trolling, and online harassment. Many users face threats related to money, reputation damage, or personal information. OTP frauds, malicious links, and hacking attempts are increasingly common. Personal photos, especially of girls, are misused, edited, and used for blackmail. Bank account hacking and identity theft are also major risks, making the online environment unsafe for many young users.
Academic Distraction
A large number of students are getting distracted by social media. They spend hours scrolling through feeds, watching videos, and playing games, which reduces their academic performance. Their attention diverts from studies, and they develop a dependency on social media that becomes difficult to overcome. This addiction affects their learning habits, productivity, and overall academic discipline.
. Privacy Concerns and Data Protection
Many young users share their personal information online without understanding the consequences. This puts their privacy at risk and exposes them to cybercrimes such as identity theft, phishing scams, financial fraud, and blackmail. Social media platforms also track user data for commercial purposes, creating further privacy concerns. Lack of awareness makes youth more vulnerable to online threats and exploitation.
Legal and regulatory perspective
1. IT Act 2000 – governs cyber activities and provide legal remedies against hacking, identity theft and cyber harassment
2. Data protection and privacy laws (DPDP Act2023) – ensures protectionof personal data on digital platform
Suggestions For Youth
Addiction and Screen Time
Excessive screen time among children has become a serious concern. Many children are becoming irritable, stressed, and emotionally unstable due to prolonged exposure to screens. Their eyes are being negatively affected, leading to early vision problems, difficulty seeing near or far, and even the early need for spectacles. This also impacts their mental well-being.
Mental Health Challenges
Social media has noticeable effects on the mental health of youth. Many students face difficulty in focusing and experience anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). These issues can be harmful for their future development. Excessive use of social media also reduces concentration power and makes it difficult for students to maintain academic focus.
Cyberbullying and Online Harassment
The anonymity provided by social media encourages cyberbullying, trolling, and harassment. Many people face threats for money or for damaging their reputation. Hackers use OTP scams and suspicious links to access mobile phones and steal personal information. Blackmailing, especially involving the misuse of girls’ photographs—edited through various applications—is becoming increasingly common. Bank account hacks and identity theft are also major risks associated with unsafe online behavior.
Academic Distraction
Many students are becoming distracted due to endless scrolling, watching short videos, and playing online games. This results in a significant decline in academic performance as their attention gets diverted from studies. Over time, this creates a dependency on social media that becomes difficult to break.
Privacy Concerns and Data Safety
Young people often share personal information online without understanding the potential risks. This makes them vulnerable to privacy breaches, identity theft, phishing, financial fraud, and blackmailing. Social media platforms also track user data for commercial purposes, which increases the risk of misuse if not handled carefully.
Conclusion
Social media is a double-edged sword. It is as beneficial as it is harmful, and its impact largely depends on how individuals choose to use it. When used for learning, teaching, and developing skills, it can be an excellent platform. However, excessive screen time—especially at a young age—can be extremely harmful.
Parents also play an important role in guiding their children toward the correct use of social media. They should teach them how to prioritize tasks and understand when and where personal information should be shared. Before uploading any personal details, one must check whether the website or platform is genuine and trustworthy. Personal photos should not be posted publicly, and only the requests of people one truly knows should be accepted.
In essence, using social media wisely can open doors to countless opportunities, but careless usage can lead to serious risks
FAQs
What is Social Media ?
Social media refers to online platform where people create ,share,and exchange information. Popular platform such as Instagram Facebook,Youtube and Snapchat enable communication entertainment,education and interaction across the world .
Why social media so popular among youth ?
Young people are naturally drawn to social media because it offers instant communication,creative expression,entertainment and a sense of belonging. It also provides opportunities to learn new skills, stay updated with trends,and connect with communities of similar interest.
How does social media impact the mental health of youth ?
Social media strongly influences the emotional well being of young prople. According to UNICEF report,excessive online engagement can lead to anxiety,depression,low self-esteem,comparison stress and disrupted sleep patterns.
Are there positive effects of social media on youth ?
Yes, When used responsibly,social media offers numerous benefits. It helps youth access educational content,participate in global discussion,showcase their talents build professional networks and support social causes.
