The relationship between young people and social media has long been on the agenda of both families and experts. Some platforms put pressure on young people, while others provide them a breath. The latest data published by the US -based Pew Research Center clearly demonstrates this dual table. The interaction of young people with the digital world is not only limited to its negative aspects.
According to the study, 74 percent of young people in the United States say that social media makes it easier for them to connect with friends. This explicitly demonstrates the role of digital platforms in social relations. 63 percent of young people say that they can express themselves more creative on social media. These data show that social media is not only a tool that distracts attention, but also a field of expression.
Social media becomes an area where young people put forward their creativity and find emotional support.
Despite this positive picture, social media does not always offer a safe space. Another study by Trevor Project reveals how much support they find in digital environments of young LGBTQ individuals. Colorful LGBTQ 53 percent of young people Tiktok, 43 percent in Discord and 41 percent of Instagram’da said they feel safe and understood. The communities on these platforms reduce the feeling of loneliness and strengthen spiritual endurance.
What is more remarkable is that this sense of trust is linked to concrete health results. According to the study, the rate of attempting suicide attempts in the last year by young people who feel safe in an online environment. In addition, social media can be a serious source of information for some young people. According to Pew’s study, 34 percent of young people have obtained information about mental health from time to time on social media. 63 percent defines social media as an important source in finding this information.
Although the accuracy of this information cannot always be confirmed, it is seen that young people have diversified their ways of access to information. On the other hand, according to Pew’s data, only 52 percent of young people can openly talk to their parents about their mental health. In this context, social media serves as a channel of expression and as a means of acquiring information. However, this does not eliminate the responsibility of the platforms.
Another prominent aspect of the research is that young people evaluate the negative effects of social media over others. While 48 percent of young people think that social media has a negative impact on their peers, only 14 percent states that this effect is valid for them. This difference reveals that there is a contradiction between personal perception and social observation. Young people often say that they see themselves independent of external factors.
However, these individual assessments may not always be objective. 45 percent of the young people involved in the study reported that social media disrupts sleep patterns and 40 percent reduces their productivity. The fun structure of social media can adversely affect the attention times of young people. This situation creates pressure on academic success and daily routine.