Editorial

The digital world defines a teenager’s life, and it is impossible to envision a teen without a digital presence. Being a teenager in the modern world requires you to have a network, to voice your opinion and connect with people around you – which can all be achieved through the digital platform. I often like to compare a teen’s digital life to a ship’s crew voyaging through the vast seas.

Around 95 percent of teens own a computer, smartphone, or iPad. Each of them spends around 9 hours a day on their devices, including 3 hours and 32 minutes on social media. Aside from that, guys spend an extra two hours playing video games, and 23 percent of students watch television while completing their schoolwork. These capabilities have not become an integral part of a teenager’s life, with the most prevalent use occurring after school and before bedtime.

Jumping back to the ship – the most important part of this vessel is the captain. I believe that social media steers the digital life of any teenager. Facebook for them is old news; they have found more innovative platforms that allow them to access more creativity. While parents might think social media is destroying their children’s personality and depriving them of experience, teens have a valid counter. The developmental requirements of teenagers are well-matched to what social media has to offer: making friends, finding out their identities, and gaining social status by being “in the know.”

A teenager’s life now revolves around social media, with around 90 percent of teenagers having their own accounts. It gives them the freedom to share ideas, opinions, and information by creating virtual networks and communities. Almost everyone on the planet now has a social media account, with around 4.5 billion users on social media worldwide.

Social media gives teenagers the opportunity to connect with people across the globe and develop their social life. In the past, apps such as Instagram and Facebook became a platform on which teens could share opinions and ideas freely. Whether teenagers are organizing fundraisers or donating to a worthy cause, social media helps them make a difference in their communities. Some social movements began when teenagers used social media to raise awareness about a problem.

While social media might make adults feel more lonely, experts believe the opposite is true for teenagers. According to a 2015 research, even while kids have fewer friends than they did a decade ago, they nonetheless report feeling less lonely.