The Controversy Over the Use of Social Media and Smartphones

Young people often spend a great deal of time on their smartphones, as this photo indicates. Picture by Alena Ozerova at 123rf.com. 

In our society, many people are concerned with the potential harm social media and smartphones have on young people. Many fear that too much screen time will produce undesirable psychological effects on youth. These people fear that social media and screen time are causing greater anxiety and depression. However, moderate amounts of social media can be beneficial for students, and fears about social media and screen time are exaggerated. 

One reason why social media is a net positive for students is the possibility for obtaining online jobs. The Internet is allowing for the growth of job opportunities, which can give many students work experience and a good starter income. The money from these jobs would help students in their financial future. As technology improves, the possibility for better jobs after a student completes high school or college increases. 

Another reason why fears about social media are exaggerated is that the panic over social media and screen time is similar to other moral panics in the past. Similar arguments being made against social media were made in the past against TV, rap music, video games, and even radio (Kamenetz, 2019). Yet, in hindsight we know that all of these forms of entertainment became part of life with no noticeable harm (Kamenetz, 2019). So, why would social media be different? 

Also, Kamenetz (2019) points out that technology statistically explains only 1 percent of a teenager’s well-being. Smart phone use is common among teenagers, but only a small minority report mental health problems (Kamenetz, 2019). While many assert that there is an increase of teen depression as technology improved, it is important to understand that correlation does not equal causation. Given this information, it stands to reason that smart phones do not have negative impacts on a student’s mental health (Kamenetz, 2019). 

Another reason for using social media is that technology is a good teaching tool for students. For instance, cell phone apps such as Kahoot can help with quizzing students for tests in a fun way (Klein, 2019). Also, polls that students fill out on cell phones can be useful (Klein, 2019). By cracking down on phone use, we are depriving teachers of the use of valuable technology (Klein, 2019). Moderation is important though. As Klein (2019) states, some schools such as Minerva High School in Ohio require students to place their cellphones in numbered pocket holders before class starts.   

Some people are suspicious of this new technology because it disincentivizes human friendships in the real world. In his documentary, Willett (2019) expressed concerns over the potential harm to friendships caused by social media. Willett (2019) made an interesting point when he stated that social media uses “envy” (of number of friends, likes, retweets, etc.) to try to get people to join in and compete with each other on social media -- all for the economic gain of the owners of the social media platforms, such as Facebook. While it should be acknowledged that social media can hurt real-life relationships, moderate amounts of social media does not seem to cause problems. Most students use social media, but most students also have real-life friends. 

Also, many  people are upset over the rise of sexting among teens. This is the practice of sending sexual pictures using phones. This is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences. For example, a girl in Cincinnati committed suicide after photos that she sent to her boyfriend were sent to hundreds of people (Sexting, n.d.). According to a nationwide survey, approximately 20 percent of teens participate in sexting (Sexting, n.d.). Since the vast majority of teens do not engage in the behavior, smartphones cannot be the problem. 

In our society, many people are concerned with the potential harm social media and smartphones have on young people. Some are concerned with mental health, but others are concerned with the decline of real-life friendships. However, social media and smartphones can be very good for educators within moderation. We see this with websites like Kahoot, and other Internet-based educational tools, and we see this with the rise of jobs over the Internet. Therefore, the use of social media and smartphones should be welcomed in moderation. 

References 

Kamenetz, A. (2019, August 27). NPR's The Scientific Debate over Teens, Screens, and Mental Health. National Public Radio.

Klein, A. (2019, September 6). Schools say no to cell phones. But is it a smart move? Education Week. 

Sexting. (n.d.). The School Superintendents Association (AASA).

Willett, R. (Director). (2019). Plugged-In: The Toxicity of Social Media Revealed. [YouTube Video]. Brick in the Wall Media.