Over the past decade, the rise of social media has revolutionized our entire way of life and has become an essential part of our culture. Although social media was designed so that it can be easily accessed by anyone, regardless of age, the most prominent users are teenagers and young adults. The teenage years are critical to mental development, and many experts have expressed concern that social media use may stunt this growth. Because social media is still relatively new, there is no hard evidence to prove or disprove that excessive use contributes to the deterioration of mental health. Although even without concrete evidence, some believe there could be possible links to anxiety, sleep disorders, low self-esteem, feelings of loneliness and depression. However, it has also been stated that social media helps some deal with difficulties in their lives. While there are both positives and negatives, does social media ultimately cause more harm than good? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A recent study showed that teenagers spend on average almost nine hours a day using a variety of different media, but particularly social media. (Wallace, 2015). Nine hours is also the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers, but most only sleep six to seven hours. Sleep deprivation can cause very harmful effects not only to a person's mental health, but also to their physical health. Those who experience sleep deprivation for prolonged periods of time may experience unusual or worsened symptoms of anxiety and stress. It's not uncommon in our society to hear about teenagers sacrificing hours of sleep to social media. Not only does social media use at night disrupt sleep, but prolonged exposure during the day can also put teens at risk. The blue light emitted by phones prevents the brain from releasing melatonin, which is vital for sleep (Kim, 2014). A surprising number of today's young people have spoken out about the constant pressure they feel from social media. Most aspects of social media revolve around sharing things about yourself and your life, but it can be presented in a way that makes it seem appealing when in reality it's not as glamorous as people say. Impressionable teenagers may then begin to compare their lives to those of others and feel self-conscious if they don't look a certain way. An online character is almost never an accurate representation of that person's life, but only an exaggeration of the few interesting and exciting aspects of their life. The attention and approval that people receive from their "friends" and followers is what leads them to depend on their followers' praise to feel accepted. Ultimately, it's a vicious cycle where someone tries to make others jealous because they are insecure. Social media has the ability to do as much good as harm, it almost always depends on the individual and whether they use it responsibly. Online, many think it's easier to find people who are going through the same things as them and connect with people who understand them better than people they know in real life. Many who feel alone and helpless in real life may turn to social media to feel a sense of acceptance. While using it as a normal coping mechanism can be harmful, it can be helpful as a short-term solution to temporary feelings of sadness and loneliness. Keep in mind:.