Social media has become a big part of our lives as adults and teens. It allows us to connect, educate, and perceive the world around us. The ideal purpose of social media was for good but in this case, it has been used for bad. 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. use social media. This puts a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious or depressed over their social media use. 1 out of 5 teens struggle with mental health and one of the main reasons is because of social media. Although, social media can influence positive connections, it can implicate negative issue such as:

1. Cyberbullying: Bullying in schools has already been a big issue for many years. But ever since social media mainstreamed, it is now easier to bully people through their devices. Cyberbullying has impacted many teens because now, people are allowed to bully and leave hurtful messages without having to identify themselves and through posts that can be seen by anyone. The percentage of students who reported being victims of cyberbullying in their lifetime more than doubled between 2010 and 2021. It can leave kids with low self esteem and image issues. 
2. Addiction and Distraction: Social media can be addictive. Mindlessly scrolling on Tiktok or Instagram is the new fun activity these days. People find an escape by being on social media, it feeds your dopamine. This addiction has increased screen-time and decreased human interaction. It distracts our mind from important things such as sleep, quality time, and self care. 

 In conclusion, the impact of social media can have an affect on mental health depending on how it is being used. Being kind on social media can make a difference.