Thumbs mostly up. Only a very few teens say that using social media has a negative effect on how they feel about themselves; man
y more say it has a positive effect. Twenty-five percent say social media makes them feel less lonely (compared to 3 percent who say more); eighteen percent say it makes them feel better about themselves (compared to 4 percent who say worse); and 16 percent say it makes them feel less depressed (compared to 3 percent who say more). Managing devices is hit or miss. Many turn off, silence, or put away their phones at key times such as when going to sleep, having meals with people, visiting family, or doing homework. But many others do not: A significant number of teens say they "hardly ever" or "never" silence or put away their devices. Less talking, more texting. In 2012, about half of all teens still said their favorite way to communicate with friends was in person; today less than a third say so. But more than half of all teens say that social media takes them away from personal relationships and distracts them from paying attention to the people they're with. Vulnerable teens need extra support. Social media is significantly more important in the lives of vulnerable teens (those who rate themselves low on a social-emotional wellbeing scale). This group is more likely to say they've had a variety of negative responses to social media (such as feeling bad about themselves when nobody comments on or likes their posts). But they're also more likely to say that social media has a positive rather than a negative effect on them. The statistics provide support for the author's claim that - Question 2 options: social media may affect personal relationships even if you don't think so. teens do not spend much time face to face with friends. teens think that social media is the best thing that ever happened to them. teens cannot spend much time face to face with friends.
