“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”Recent surveys reveal that a significant number of teens are struggling with mental health challenges, prompting urgent discussions within our community. Social media, depression, anxiety, peer pressure—when social media gets to them—in the kids in the schools. It is happening all the time, for awareness and what kids are going through.
Social media affects many student’s friendships in school. 8th grade counselor Mrs. Warder said, “Teens fuss and fight on social media all the time. They face challenges on social media when they are under peer pressure.”
When students are under pressure from dealing with social media, Mrs. Warder is always there. Mrs. Warder stated, “I listen and talk to them about social media, bullying, and peer pressure. I help them whenever they need it.”
That teen issue is an important title because kids should be able to not have teen issues and be able to go to school without peer pressure, anxiety, or depression.
At school, counselors help students all the time who are dealing with issues on social media. 7th-grade counselor Caroline Graff said, “As counselors, we see social media problems are being bullied by other students. We try and talk to them and we also try and get them to talk to their parents.”
Mr. Crawford, the 6th-grade counselor, has also had to help students who are dealing with the pressures of social media. “Teens have been having social media problems for years. The main issue I see is students posting mean things about each other. I tell students that if they do not have something nice to say, then they should not say it to begin with.” Eventually, the person will move on and drop it. Students need to know that you do not have to be mean or post things to fit in.
If you think that being mean or posting ugly things on Social Media makes you cool and will get you to fit in with someone, then you should re-evaluate the kind of friends you have or the type of person you are trying to become. Mr. Crawford also said, “The best thing to do is stay off social media altogether. The adolescent brain is not mature enough to handle social media to begin with.” Students oftentimes hate to hear Mr. Crawford say that, but the students who have deleted Snap or Instagram are so much happier in the long run. They stay away from the drama that is nearly impossible to get away from in today’s social media world.
Izilah Rigby, a 7th grader, explained that there is a lot of drama and bad stuff kids aren’t supposed to see at this age. She has dealt with teen issues since the 6th grade, and she blocks them on social media.
You have to be yourself and don’t put yourself in who they want you to be.
