The Effects of Social Media on Human Brain and Behavior Opinion Essay

In my opinion, social networking is not good for the human mind. Although, during the pandemic it was the only way people had to talk to each other, people should be careful and not obsess over what they see and do while using them. People post pictures that are highly re-touched giving todays youth a bad body image because they don't look like the people they see online. People get so consumed with the attention they get on social networks that they don't give their families the necessary attention. Humans need physical affection and in person connections as well, if they are locked into their devices how will they get that?

Young people today especially girls, feel the pressure to look perfect. Due to all the retouched photos and clever poses people use these days on social media cause these teens to  develope a poor body image. These can cause dangers such as eating disorders, bullying, and self harm. Poor mental health is also a factor in too much social media usage. People think if they dont get enough likes they aren't valued as high as others. This can cause body dysmorphia,self obsession, depression. Stepping away from the mass of perfectly taken photos and seeing what people look like in person can put things back into perspective.

Humans need physical interactions to stay mentally healthy. The passage states, "as biological beings, we have emotional needs tied to touch and warmth" this supports the fact, if we only create relationships online we won't satisfy our innate need for physical touch and attention. Sure it is good to meet people with common interests, but too much of a good thing can be bad. People get so absorbed into their virtual lives they don't properly care for their real life relationships. Families aren't as close as they used to be due to this. 

Social media does have some good things as well. It keeps people connected when they are at a distance they can't travel to to stay in touch. There are many way to find like minded people to share your passions with and not feel so alone. There are many online communities with just about every interest to bring people together. The passage states "i can be exactly who i want to be" meaning you can create a persona and be anybody or anything you wish. While this may seem like a good idea, people sometimes forget it is all pretend because there is nobody to tell them otherwise. If you join a group where every one acts the same you are at risk of losing your individuality. 

In conclusion, people may think social media is a good thing for now, while it does have some redeeming qualities, a person has biological needs that can not be met with social media alone. They need a combination of physical and technological  based friendships to satisfy their needs. Too much social media can cause harm on developing and already developed minds.