The topic that the research paper will discuss is the effect that social media has on teenagers. Especially in this generation, social media is constantly used everyday by almost everyone. It is very rare for a teenager to not have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. These platforms aren't always the best for a child's mental health. There are so many debates about social media being a negative or positive effect on the teenager's mental growth. Being at the time period of growing up is already hard enough. Even though not everyone may go through these kinds of mental changes, social media is still extremely prominent is a large majority of teenager's lives. Even though any social platform has not affected me personally, I have heard stories where it can hurt people. I have many social media platforms and it is a big part of my life. It is such a big part of my life that I have to use Instagram for my job. Teenagers already have enough trouble with fitting in and their own insecurities. Social media can make them think worse about themselves than they already do. However, social media is not all bad and there is some good comes out of using it.

In one of the essays written by Andrew Simmons, he talks about how social can help a student's writing. Simmons has been a writer for The New York Times, Slate, and The Believer. He has been published in these well-known publications, which allow him to be a reliable source. As a teacher, Simmons has witnessed his students become better writers. Even though it may not the improvement in the formality of the writing, but the teenagers were able to express their feelings more from social media. The social platforms allows these teens, especially teenage boys be able to express their emotions through their writing. On Facebook Simmons witnessed his students sharing personal information such as their problems or insecurities and a lot of support from their peers. This allows the students to feel comfortable with the people around them. This is one of the more positive effects on how social media can help a teenagers mental health. 

In another source, written by Larry D. Rosen, Mark L. Carrier and Nancy A. Cheever, they talk about how social media has a negative effect on people. Both writers are both professors at California State University. They specialize in either psychology or communication, which is used throughout this essay. Throughout this writing the professors talk about the symptoms of addition to the Internet and how many people cannot go without any form of technology. When people who are addicted to the Internet get taken away from it, they can become depressed, angry, or violent. It can also cause problems like sleep deprivation and lack of productivity. This article shows how social media can have negative effects since so many people are addicted to their phone, laptop, or any other form of technology. This can cause many problems to the mental health of the people who are addicted to social media. 

In the last source, written by Michael S. Rosenwald, it talks about how Facebook can help people overcome their shyness. Rosenwald has is a reporter on The Washington Post's local enterprise team. He has written similar articles to this one which have been published in this known publication. People throughout this website that are shy are able to create strong relationships with people through this network. When they talk to people online, their shyness seems to disappear. This website takes away any worry about talking to another person face to face, but the anxiety is still there when the person has to talk to another when they're in person. This article helps because it talks about how many people tend to create a front and try to hide behind social media such as Facebook to better them. The anxiety is still there and it may have even grown even more for these shy people. 

There are always two sides to every story. For the research question people will always debate if social media has a negative or positive effect to a teenager's mental health. There are people who think it can cause issues such as depression and anger. However others debate that it can create better writers and help shyness. I think that is doesn't always help people. It is extremely addictive and many people, especially teenage girls feel insecure once they go on social media. I will have to eventually choose the side I am going to argue for and this will help my research question become more specific. 
