Social media, the phone in your hand, and the thorn in mental health’s side: How have these apps affected our generation? Older generations look back fondly on the memories of getting their first car, whilst we looked forward to having our first cellphone. Both represent independence and the ability to connect with others. A car was our parents’ tool for social interaction. Discuss a meetup spot, grab the keys, and go meet some people - that’s how they did it! Nowadays, we utilize our phones for connections. My friends and I join a call, pick an online game, and we all play together. It’s a totally different way to socialize, but one that comes with new troubles. As social media becomes our generation’s primary way of connecting, it also brings along mental health challenges that older generations never had to face. Social media opens that door to mental struggles such as anxiety, self-esteem issues, and constant comparison. Do you remember the first time someone really hurt you emotionally? For older generations, it likely happened face-to-face. For me, it happened through social media. When I was 13, I remember getting in contact with this guy online through a social media app my parents didn’t know about. I thought he was fun to talk to at first, but then he started to make comments that would make me uncomfortable. I brushed them off until he asked me to do something I absolutely did not want to do. When I refused, he blocked me. Just like that. Though it may seem small, this experience left me feeling worthless and depressed. It scared me emotionally, and I carried untrue thoughts and feelings towards myself for a long time. The sad part is that my experience is common. So many people, especially young teens, end up adopting the harsh words of manipulative strangers online as part of their internal identity. What someone says about you in a comment or a DM can echo in your mind for months. Cyberbullies and predators get to hide behind screens, faceless, while their victims, such as my younger self, are left to carry the emotional weight in silence. Past generations never had to face a bully or a predator they couldn’t see. But for us, experiencing this kind of invisible harm has almost become a normal part of growing up, and that’s not okay. How can we break the cycle? How can things change? Well, right now you can limit your usage and avoid strangers online. Make your profiles private so only family and close friends can see. Social media is not going away, and no matter the rules or regulations, there will always be a way around them. If you can’t beat ‘em, learn about ‘em. That’s not exactly how the saying goes, but in this case, it’d be a good idea. Teach your teen about online stranger danger! Set boundaries and be a safe place for them to talk. Kids can’t be sheltered forever. Learning about the harmful aspects and how to avoid them will help people of all ages stay safe on social media.