Social media platforms have been well known for a number of years with increasing popularity. About 62% of people around the world use social media, meaning that there are almost 5 billion social media users. Nowadays, many social media platforms and devices have an option to see how long a person has been on a certain app. But how much is too much? 

     With countries worldwide gaining internet access, more and more people are downloading social media platforms. There are many different reasons to download social media such as getting in contact with others, watching videos during free time, making money, making content, etc. However, excess usage of social media can have negative effects.

     According to the Queen’s Journal, “…checking social media has become an involuntary response to momentary boredom. Our phones, laptops, and other devices are conditioning us to use them at every waking moment.” Every like and notification, releases a small burst of the hormone, dopamine, making people seek this pleasure. Because of this, the brain’s ability to focus on less interesting topics is affected, reducing people’s attention span. According to the National Institutes of Health, “excessive screen usage can also lead to problems in social-emotional development, including obesity, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety.” Social media is sometimes seen as a bad thing, but there are also some positive results of social media. 

     “I follow some influencers that have their focus on body positivity and using social media as an activist platform…”, stated Ms. Crumpler, English teacher at Briar Woods. There are many that use their platforms to spread awareness for a good cause, especially with the number of people on social media nowadays. Spreading news/awareness, building businesses, learning, gaining creativity, are all positive effects of social media. With the amount of people on social media and what it is used for, many things are possible.

     Social media platforms have been popular for a number of years with many controversies surrounding them. These platforms can have both positive and negative effects on users, but it all depends on how a person uses it.