Social Media: Salvation or Devastation In a Pandemic?

Social media has both kept us sane and harmed our mental health during quarantine. 

It’s helped us maintain our sanity for months, as it was the only way to interact with people outside of our families. We couldn’t go to school. We couldn’t socialize in person. We were not allowed to participate in sports. The only way we could “see” our friends or extended family was on social media. Imagine how lonely lockdown would have been had it happened 100 years ago. 

However, social media has also harmed our mental health during quarantine by increasing our exposure to disaster news. With so little to do in the early months of the pandemic, we were checking social media constantly. Because of COVID-19, almost all news was bad news, leading many people to lose hope and become depressed. 

Social media, specifically TikTok, also worsened attention spans, causing people to avoid tasks that do not provide instant gratification, and procrastinate on more imperative duties, such as schoolwork. 

Additionally, screen time has significantly increased since the start of the pandemic. A ninth-grader from the School said, “My screen time has risen exponentially over quarantine because on top of the 8-10 hours for school and homework, I also spend time socializing and playing games. Lots of days I end up tired before the school day is over just because of looking at the screen for so long.”

Although there are negative aspects of social media, the good may outweigh the bad because it has been our primary means of communication with classmates. For freshmen, it was the only way to connect with new students at our school. Most ninth-graders are uncomfortable calling a new student on the phone, but willing to connect on social media.

Social media can be a great tool if used correctly and in moderation. Just make sure to take breaks when needed, as logging off is a great way to take care of your eyes and mind. Social media is here to stay, so use it wisely!