J's Musings

Social media is often known as the drug of our times. It is addictive and allows one to be engaged in the content they want for hours at an end. It has made communication extremely easy and is often the preferred method amongst teenagers.

On one hand, many find this a quick and accessible way to stay connected. Long conversations or waiting for letters is not needed to remind each other of your existence. A simple reel, or text is more than enough. It also means that teenagers are more connected to one another and find relations easier to maintain. It can be said that social media has made relations more accessible and available. A simple reel sent to each other is enough to remind the other that you are around. And outside of people they know, teenagers see people from all over the world, living in a variety of conditions are thus exposed to a multitude of views. This can encourage connection and empathy, as they are aware of a world much larger than the one revolving around them.

But, on the other hand, there are teenagers who use social media as an escapade, as a way to block out the world and isolate themselves to what they enjoy. This is when they start to become emotionally distant. On this side of the web, teenagers spend hours scrolling on their devices, with no regard to friends, family and the rest of the world in general. They ignore relations and genuine bonding, prioritizing communication through reels and ai polished texts. This ends up with them being unable to express what they feel in spoken word without help of quotes and dialogues from movies and books. As they spend more and more time obsessing over their limited topics online, they start distancing themselves from less stimulating activities like talking to people and spending time doing nothing around friends and family. Their lack of ability to pay attention and express their emotions create emotional distance between them and the world. Nothing feels as fun anymore and they tend to choose social media over real connection.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the user and their choices, how social media affects them. Someone may find it a perfect way to stand more connected than before, while the others may use it to escape life. It is best to try to strike the right balance and not overdo either situation. So, it cannot be definitively said whether social media makes teens emotionally distant, but the most accurate explanation would be that it varies on usage ad preferences.

By,

Janhavi ❤