Social media is a diverse topic that can have drastic effects both positive and negative on younger athletes. Due to its popularity and the rise of the online generation, it is almost impossible to shut social media out completely. Social platforms can give athletes a sense of motivation and accomplishment, while also doing the exact opposite, such as furthering comparisons that can spiral into negative behaviors. Social media can help athletes promote themselves and communicate to open doors to opportunity, but it can also negatively impact health issues and make it difficult to have high self-esteem. According to Dr. Vivek Murthy as reported in the New York Times, “Public health experts, educators and policymakers across the country have become increasingly concerned about the potential effects of social media on the mental health of teenagers, who spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.”
High school and college students that are involved in a sport live very busy lives which often makes it difficult to balance everything. The popularity of social media amongst young people can lead to negative habits, for example interrupting sleep habits and increasing pressure. This shows that social media has a direct correlation to a student’s mental health. Social media is often used by athletes who feel obligated or required to post in order to promote their self-image. All students deal with some level of stress, but things like social media can make these issues worse. Students can fall into a hole or pattern of using social media that makes previous problems more difficult to come out of. Another negative issue teens can fall into is the comparison trap. With social media being such a huge aspect of the teen culture, this negative behavior can be easy to do without even realizing. Dr. Murthy announced just recently that he would be supporting the enforcement of warning labels on social media platforms as they can be addictive and lead to negative mental health patterns.
On the flip side social media can be used in a variety of positive ways as it can open doors of opportunity and connection. One way the cross-country team at Richwoods stays motivated is through an online platform that tracks runs called Strava. This app allows runners to join a group with their team to keep track of the work they have put in. This app can boost both confidence and performance as runners push each other beyond their own limitations. Strava can also be helpful to coaches as they can easily track the workout their team has completed or look back on past achievements. This is one of many examples of the positive impact that social media platforms can provide for teams. Social media has both good and bad aspects that can either be used to benefit oneself or negatively impact one’s health and distract them from their life goals. It is a critically important topic to further discuss as the problems we see now in young people are still getting worse as social media continues to grow.
