Ever since the rise of the iPhone and social media, teenagers, being the primary target audience, have seemed to have developed an unhealthy addiction. But is it really social media that’s captivating the minds of teenagers? Do teenagers really have an “addiction” or is it just an exaggeration by the older generations?
Today, almost all American teenagers own an iPhone which provides quick access to social media. However, social media is not the only thing on these devices, as communication, video games, and education tools are also used. At Marist High School, almost every students’ homework and education is almost entirely on an iPad.
According to MHS Media polling data, 69 of 86 students surveyed (80.2%) spend most of their screen time on social media.
Only 10 students surveyed (11.6%) claim that most of their screen time is spent on video games, while the other 8.2% spend most of their time on education or communication apps.
Furthermore, 31 out of the 86 students surveyed claim TikTok is their most used app, followed by another 25 for Instagram. These numbers show over 65% of Marist students spend most of their time between two of the most popular social media platforms.
This social media fixation is not limited to a few minutes, as MHS Media data concludes that only 20% of 86 students surveyed spend less than four hours per day on their devices.
So how did the obsession with social media begin?
Ever since the release of Facebook and MySpace in the 1990s, social media has slowly grown into a billion dollar business. Fast forward 30 years, and platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat are some of the most popular social media apps to date, each worth billions of dollars. Back in the 90s, however, social media had to be accessed via computer, which is vastly different from the iPhone. Now, easy access to social media through mobile devices seems to consume the lives of millions.
Vacant time once passed by interacting with others in public or being present can now be filled with scrolling on Instagram or TikTok. This has made people more isolated in public and less likely to interact with strangers.
“We’re conditioned to believe that people are out to get us as opposed to help us, and that’s just the way of the world. We’ve become very divided,” said Principal Meg Dunneback.
According to Stanford psychiatrist Anna Lembke, this is because social media apps have taken advantage of our dopamine release system to keep teenagers wired in. Furthermore, the algorithm ensures the user that each video will align with their interests to keep them engaged. All the user has to do is scroll and tap for instantaneous entertainment. This strategy has proven to be very effective for apps like TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms.
“You can interact with people on social media making it less likely for people to interact in real life, especially with strangers,” said senior Danny Walczak.
This mindless scrolling on social media for long periods of time is thought by many to be linked to a decrease in productivity and increase in procrastination with teenagers. This is why many claim social media and the iPhone is becoming an addiction, most notably affecting the young people.
“I believe social media makes me less productive because my brain is concentrated on the app while I am trying to do work,” said senior Vincent Delfavro.
However, in a recent study conducted by San Diego State University, their evidence suggests this is not necessarily true. Their extensive research and surveys concluded that optimizing, but not reducing screen time, may help increase productivity.
