Do you remember your childhood? Do you remember running around, getting in trouble for being loud, and having to be home before sunset? Well, I don't. I remember growing up getting a phone for my fifth birthday, a computer for graduating sixth grade, and a iPad for my thirteenth christmas. I grew up revolving around technology and all my friends having social media sites because we all thought we were too cool to write notes to each other. I remember we used Myspace, we would messages each other back and forth all day. And now, we don't even realize what we were starting back then. Because the here and now, more than 50 minutes a day, people are using a combination of Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. That makes 3 million active users on Facebook at any given moment. Statistics show that if Facebook was a country, it'd be the 3rd largest nation in the world (King). It's not even about how big Facebook has become in the 12 years it's been founded, but about how much it's being overused. The average teenager uses social media minimum of 2 hours and 20 minutes every day (Christakis). We have created such a technology dependent life that in most cases people ask for electronics or new video games for holidays instead of asking for the usual clothes or accessories. Social media has spread life wildfire, in just 12 short years hundreds of sites have been introduced such as Kik, Snapchat, and Vine. Although Facebook is known as the "leader of the social media pack," it was originally just made for college students to keep up with their friends and test dates (Harawa 366). This topic has continually grown more interesting to me because social media is something I use every day, but to know just 12 years ago it was almost unheard of, blows my mind. My research has proven to me that social media can be addictive, cause issues with the First Amendment, cyberbullying, and changed language.

Addiction is "a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)" ... "an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something" (Merriam-Webster). If you've ever been going about a regular day and have  

predominantly kept checking your phone to see if you've got any alerts from a social media site, then you're addicted. If you've ever checked a social site before getting out of bed, this is an indication of a social anxiety and compulsion, meaning you're addicted. The little things that have become a "norm" for you such as these, are classified as an addiction according to the Merriam-Webster. I always want to question myself about these facts, but then I realize addiction isn't just dealing with drugs or alcohol but facing the truth that addiction can come from social media. The results of addiction can be critical such as mental health issues, and even some reports of anxiety after the usage of these sites. Dr. Sreedhar Potarazu a Fox News reporter and an acclaimed ophthalmalmologist said, " ... Facebook is not going anywhere anytime soon ...  there is increasing evidence and suggestion that there may be a correlation between how often one uses social media and a linkage to mental health issues ... ." Considering there are 6 main types of anxiety and it's said that every single person will have a type of anxiety by the time that they reach the age of 18, and the major age group that uses social media is ages 15-24, it should show that there is a huge connection between this. Fox News, one of the most known news sources even shows that there is a connection between anxiety, addiction, and Facebook. Facebook has created addiction and caused anxiety and mental health issues across the world in just 12 years (Potarazu). In another article, "Americans can't live without the web- but social media is a different story," it says that "More than half of Americans, 53% to be exact, admit they would find social media "very hard" to give up, compared to 38% who thought so in 2006" (Rogers). Creating a world where addiction is "very hard" to give up should worry you in the sense that this occurred in only a few short years, but of what could come in time. We shouldn't wait until someone important such as the President to get these sort of health issues, we have to start now and realize this problem is only going to become more and more detrimental.

The First Amendment states that Congress is forbidden to interfere with a citizen's freedom of religion, speech, assembly, or petition (Merriam-Webster). Social media sites such as Facebook have made that hard to pronounce. In the beginning, social media was originally created for college students to keep up with their friends and test dates (Harawa 366). Through the evolving of time social media has been used to slander presidents, post "abhorrent comments" about a recently murdered girl, and even a man to post a picture of his dead wife. Harawa continues explaining how, "The Supreme Court has 'long recognized that each medium of expression presents special First Amendment problems. To think that any of those things are considered as "okay" to do just really makes me question along with Harawa as to what can be considered as free expression or criminal acts. Social media has proved this statement exceedingly accurate ... difficulty in defining the boundaries between free expression and criminal acts." The difference is continually growing to the point where users believe it's acceptable to post such vogue pictures or comments. If "People around the world have been arrested for their social media use," then someone has to stand up and say this is not okay. For hundreds of years the founding fathers have given us an amendment to go by. There has been no issues until social media was discovered and used wrongly. Now high ranked individuals are starting to question whether some acts over social media sites are breaking that amendment. It starts out with just one act of violence, a threat, or even a criminal act posted and it could be broken. The amendment states how we have the freedom of speech, but the high ranked individuals are starting to wonder when enough will be enough (Harawa).

Cyberbullying is the usage of technology to threaten, harass, embarrass, or point out another person (Cyberbullying). "Toward a Cybervicitmology," an article written by Michael Arntfield explains how "Cyberbullying has become one of the leading sources of technological, social, and policy debates in Canada and North America over the last decade." Bullying has been around forever, but now that there is a way to be anonymous and not have to say it to the victims face there has become a whole new platform of unreasonable actions. Bullying is no longer only on school playgrounds but as we know it online and all throughout a child's life. Children nowadays are walking around on their parents ipad's or tablets, they're all around social media sites. Without an intervention, cyberbullying could turn from bad to worse in a short period of time. Cyberbullying can turn the sweetest kids in to wanting to commit suicide. Suicide should never be the reason to solve a person's issues especially coming from something that is so preventable such as this. According to Arntfield, "the vast majority of cyberbullying is thought to go unreported, or at least significantly underreported." Victims of cyberbullying shouldn't have to be afraid to report it. Sites such as Facebook have caused millions of victims to decide that because all they know is the bullying that goes on throughout their life, should make them want to end their lives. To have 4,400 suicide deaths per year from cyberbullying alone, should tug at your heart strings. 4,400 people feel as though their lives aren't worth it because others through social media sites say so. If that doesn't let me put it in to perspective: there are 138 plane crashes a year. That's not even a third of what deaths come from cyberbullying. This is a real problem that some people joke about or even think, "this never happens." Schools should reach out to their students and make it known that it can happen and that it's okay to come and talk to a counselor about it instead of being afraid. You see, cyberbullying doesn't happen to everyone, but it could be you. It could be you wondering if you're good enough, or if it'll ever stop, or if any one cares (Arntfield). 

Jon Reed writes an article, "How Social Media is Changing Language," claiming that social media has completely changed the world's language in a few aspects. Reed explains how, "Since so much of the written language we see is now on the screens of our computers, tablets, and smartphones, language now evolves partly through our interaction with technology." He notices how the new meanings to old words is in us abbreviating everything. The typical things that would originally be typed out are being abbreviated such as "LOL" or "OMG." I've even heard some of my friends who are apart of this generation unsure of some of the "lingo" being used. Through the use of social media sites such as Facebook having limited word counts, people have progressed their language in to an entire new language that most people outside this generation wouldn't understand. If social media is already creating the world to change our language, what good could come later on down the road? The only good thing that can come from social media is what it was made for, which is communication. Through communication companies use social media sites as a way to advertise. Since 70% of people already shop online, social media can portray all sorts of advertisements throughout the entire universe with just one click. Communication can be done in many forms, we are lucky enough to live in an industrialized nation where we can have the access to quick communication. Unlike third world countries who some have never even seen what an iPhone or computer looks like, we have access to cool and fun technology. We've gone from typewriters, to the first banana phone, to now being able to have a full conversation in under five minutes. Communication doesn't have to be done in diverse languages nor does it have to be done over text. We shouldn't waste it on treating others disrespectfully or trying to create a diverse language.

In a report one by Kelly Wallace from CNN, she talks with a small town family about what they think about social media. Immediately, the mother starts to say how she has full access to her daughters social media sites and how the only thing is she can't post on anything. Shortly after Wallace asks the daughter about how that makes her feel getting back a smile with a strong agreement saying that she loves social media and that she has never felt bullied or out of place while in use. She continues saying how "I think just as damaging as social media can be, it can ... help build self-confidence too." This family believes that social media can be a good thing if used properly. Not every family has to keep full access of their children's social media sites, but be sure to give the child details of what is good and what is bad. Before letting them create an account sit them down and have a talk about what is acceptable behavior and what will get them in trouble. An outcome that is usually overlooked about social media is that in most children's lives all the comments say "You're beautiful," or "Oh my God, gorgeous." In fact, according to the report done by the non profit child advocacy group Common Sense Media, "One in five teens said social media makes them feel more confident, compared with 4% who said it makes them feel less so." Looking at those statistics and realizing that all social media isn't bad, if used correctly. Most teenagers felt that they had a voice and that it social media sites make them feel as though they're more outgoing, rather than what people typically think every case is cyberbullying. Social media gives teenagers who don't think anyone will listen to them a chance to be heard on the media sites. Not only do teenagers feel as though they have more confidence or a voice after using social media, but also said social media "not only increased tweens and teens" awareness of the world around them, but also has allowed them to be more innovative about how they can get involved. Students can easily see others doing right for the community and will follow. This could create a world where everyone wants to help once they see a bad situation going on around the world, such as hashtags used on Twitter or challenges such as cinnamon or a gallon of milk. These sort of things go viral and if we can get the right type of stuff out there, think of the possibilities we could overcome as one (Wallace). 

Although social media such as Facebook and Instagram have helped keep the world connected and made advertisements almost impossible to miss, it has destroyed what we call as a friendly source. Social media doesn't harm every one, but it could hurt your friends, family, or even you. We shouldn't wait until something huge and destructible happens to try and change our ways. Social media has changed the way the world interacts forever with each other, and is providing more and more harmful sites. If we aren't careful one day we might wake up to a world full of hatred and disrespect that could potentially create another war. We have to pay attention to the younger generations as they continue to grow up learning off of iPads instead of chalk boards. To represent ourselves as if every person was looking up to you as to follow your lead. They say that peers tend to follow people closest to them, be the one who leads others to do the right thing. A good way to start off is to eliminate what sites you follow and filter out what is something you wouldn't want your kids to see. There is even a "report" button that lets you get something that is inappropriate removed off of the site completely. Social media doesn't have to be banned, but it should be limited and have word filters as to what can be posted or said throughout every comment or upload. Let's make this in to a world where some day we won't have to worry about any one being arrested because of the things they post on social media or where kids won't feel like their last resort is to commit suicide. We shouldn't wait until something big happen, let's filter out the bad starting today and save the world for tomorrow.

