by Carlee Malone ’20

Social media is an intractable part of adolescents’ lives. For many adults, this is a cause for concern and disapproval. However, these sites are ingrained in the day-to-day of today’s youth, acting as platforms for not just photos, but for seemingly everything: activism, humor, growing businesses, news. But perhaps teens shouldn’t be so dismissive about the pervasiveness of social media in their lives and actively think about its positives and negatives. These past few weeks, activity over many social media platforms has demonstrated both this difficult-to-define dynamic of good and bad contributions to society, as well as the need to take a step back and examine its faults.

It’s no secret that growing up in the digital age is an incredible gift for those who yearn to be politically active, but who lack the means to learn about or participate in their country’s politics. This type of political outreach by and for young people has propelled youth involvement in the issues that directly affect them, and even more critically, those that don’t. But, it’s important to recognize that political activism doesn’t start and stop at liking a politically charged post, or simply sharing a shocking news article with followers. While awareness about global issues is important, the illusion of activism stops many from making a real difference. Amongst the chaos of the Australian wildfires, there are countless posts being circulated about the horrors, but it is rare to see users taking concrete action. These wildfires are devastating. So, people should be proactive however they can in an attempt to limit the effects of climate change, a force that undeniably exacerbated the damage and scope of the fire.

Beyond the tendency to promote pseudo-activism, social media manages to, through comic relief, considerably diminish the severity and imminence of many glaring issues around the world. Though for some, it might simply act as a way to alleviate the stress of such world problems, many of the memes and funny videos seem to oversimplify and make trivial certain issues that are terrifyingly critical. On nearly every social media platform right now, users are creating memes about the possibilities of World War III: a response to the growing hostility between the U.S. and Iran. Most notably, many reference the prospect of an upcoming draft with several posts about how users will attempt to dress as a woman or fake a handicap to avoid it, failing to recognize that the U.S. abolished the military draft in 1973. Even more of an issue is the blatant ignorance exhibited by these posts of the horrors that people in the Middle East would endure if a war were to occur.

Even further, the dangers of misplaced humor seem to permeate our everyday lives. Many posts deliver a message that seems to normalize, and even glorify, bad habits, poor work ethic, and overall negative attitudes. Whether it be an Instagram post that reads “me walking into school on 37 seconds of sleep and a cereal bar” followed by an image of a very exhausted SpongeBob, or a tweet that says “when you care enough about your grades to cry at night but not enough to do anything to change them,” the latest “trends” seem to revolve around laziness, resentment of school, and self-deprecation, and deliberate isolation. It’s now funny, and almost admirable, to hold yourself to low standards and do the absolute minimum in nearly anything. These behaviors are becoming so popularized that working hard, caring for yourself, and valuing academic and social productivity appear borderline taboo.

That being said, social media truly is an incredible innovation. People thousands of miles apart can stay connected and up-to-date with each others’ lives, teens with no business experience can jumpstart a brand and become entrepreneurs, and many are offered an outlet that allows them to cope with day-to-day problems via humor and advice. As we explore such an explosive platform, it’s important to not overlook its faults and be blinded by a convenient source of entertainment and information.