Much has been made of the negative effects that social media can have on young and impressionable minds but there are a number of benefits of social media for youth *(between 13 and 29 years, according to the UK’s Office of National Statistics) as well. It’s true that social media has the potential to influence teenagers negatively, particularly in the way it might affect their self-esteem.
Although there are dangers to consider when it comes to social media use, there are many positives from it too. Social media is now part of society, and it’s unlikely to go away any time soon. Rather than attempting to discourage young people from using it at all, encouraging them to use it in the right way can deliver a variety of benefits.
Here are some positive effects of social media on teenagers and youth:
- Encourages creativity and innovative thinking
Social media sites are all about content in a variety of forms. From written content to photos and graphics, there are many ways for users to engage, and show off their creativity. If a youth likes to take photos, these sites and apps can help him or her to hone their skills and show off what they’re doing. For young people who like to write or create graphics and digital designs, social media is an ideal place to share their work and get encouragement and feedback from others. Teens or youths can come up with fresh, innovative ideas, and get instant feedback. In this way, social media can be a tool for creative teens.
- Teens can learn to keep themselves safe
Parents often worry about the safety of their children when they use social media – and that’s if they’re not completely oblivious to the potential dangers. However, teenagers can learn to keep themselves safe online.
- Social media can be a resource in education
Social media can be an excellent resource for educating teenagers and youth. Talking to teens one-on-one might provide more opportunities to control the narrative, but social media and the internet in general still offer a useful way to educate young people. They can learn new things through articles shared on social media networks, or by watching videos. Many educational organizations, news networks, and other educational bodies use social media to inform and often specifically to reach out to teenagers and youth.
- Opportunities for critical thinking and assessment
It’s no secret that social media is home to a lot of disinformation and misinformation, which are harmful in some ways, but the benefits of social media for youth outweigh the disadvantages if it is used under appropriate guidelines. The downside to everyone being able to share their view or opinion is that false information can easily be circulated. However, this can be a good thing for teenagers if they’re taught to assess information and people’s opinions in the right way. With the right critical thinking skills, they can fact check, research and form their own opinions. Teenagers can develop the skills they need to stop and think about something before sharing it unquestionably.
- Social media develops social and communication skills
The social aspect of these media is one of the biggest positives. It gives teenagers the opportunity to interact with their peers and to make new friends in a safe way too. Social media can help teenagers who might struggle to communicate offline to develop their social skills in a space where they can have more time to think about their actions and find people who share their interests. Social media often presents opportunities for debate and conversation, allowing teenagers to learn how to discuss a variety of topics.
- Space for exploring creativity
Social media can be perfect for getting creative, learning how to solve problems, and finding innovative approaches to different aspects of life. Even when teenagers are making memes, they’re using their creative skills. You might think a teenager is messing around and making a silly picture, but what they’re doing could be helping them to learn valuable design skills. They might spend their time taking photos, writing blog posts or sharing videos of their daily life and the things they enjoy. These are all opportunities to develop and express their creativity.
- Teens can expand their worldview
Using social media gives teenagers the chance to expand their worldview and get out of the sphere of their own community or circle of friends and make new friends from different backgrounds. Social media makes it easier to do this, even if teenagers restrict their contact to friends and family or friends of friends. It exposes them to different viewpoints, news and people from around the world. It can be beneficial for teenagers to start learning about what’s happening outside of their world and understand big issues.
- Social media can lend a voice
Many teenagers may feel like they’re not listened to, however true that might actually be. Others feel shy or unsure about speaking up in person. However, social media can give teens a way to express themselves in a different manner. Whether they choose to write, make images or record videos, they can express themselves in a less direct way. People might see what they’re doing, but they don’t have an audience or large group of people watching them in person. Social media can allow them to have a voice and might give them the confidence to speak out more offline too.
- Inspiration and support
As a communicative method, the advantages of social media can be great as they can support and inspire each other. Many teens use social media, in addition to texting, as their main forms of communication with their friends. They use it to stay in touch, but don’t simply spend all of their time sharing memes. Teenagers also use their social media accounts to support each other and talk about bigger issues in their personal lives. Social media can help to strengthen friendships and keep friends close.
*https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/adhocs/010127youthagegroupsbreakdownofagegroups13to29yearsand16to29yearsbysexregionsandeducationstatusinuk)
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