Have you ever realized how social media has become a part of your day-to-day life?

Social media influences how people connect, communicate, and consume information.

“The only way I text my friends is through Snapchat,” said senior Lara Carmona.

The effects of social media are multifaceted and integrated into personal and social well being.

Social media not only helps people stay connected digitally, but it also shapes self perspective. Social media platforms mainly highlight high follower influencers who are curated to present a “perfect” life. Creating these seemingly perfect images of a person leads viewers to compare themselves to a perfect image, which then creates low self esteem among many.

Social media isn’t only a negative thing as it also has many positive effects. Since these platforms are used by so many, news is able to spread rapidly. People are then exposed and informed about current events going on in the world,

An upside of social media is that everyone has a voice there. Social media provides a platform for others to be heard, whether a small number of followers or a large one, everyone is heard. Although this will not always be a good thing, false information, negative opinions, and the spread of extreme ideas can spread quickly.

Then, there is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can vary through minorities or majorities. It could be as small as a dislike on a post, or as big as a negative comment on a post.

“I’ve gotten a negative comment on my post before and I didn’t think it would affect me as much as it did,” said a junior who preferred anonymity.

Though social media can be a negative thing, it does have some positive effects on society. It is up to the end user to engage with social media responsibly and sensibly.