Chloe Shares: What I Wish I Knew About Social Media.
June 13, 2025 | By Chloe
Social media has brought about a whole new world that can, at times, be difficult, dangerous, and confusing. This is perhaps best illustrated with Instagram’s April 2025 release of heavy advertising campaigns for new Instagram teen accounts with built in protections to protect teens from explicit content floating around on the internet. With knowledge of the risks of social media and how to mitigate them, teens can effectively use social media to connect with others safely. As a middle schooler about to enter high school, here are some of the risks and challenges I personally have faced using social media, and the methods I use to reduce the impact of risks.
What No One Told Me About Social Media
Built to be addictive 😵💫📱
The goal of social media companies is to keep the screen on and keep its user’s attention. This also creates a key problem of social media serving as an “echo chamber,” where content that apps feed you reinforces your existing beliefs. In turn, this has the potential to limit users’ worldviews and perspectives, and promote social media users’ narrow-mindedness. Most experts agree that more than 2 hours spent on social media can lead to social isolation, decreased academic grades, and anxiety (BBC News). For students like me, social media can be very dangerous if we do not know how to control our usage, which is easier said than done.
Pressure to keep up 😰
Relatedly, I also wish I knew how social media can promote a FOMO effect (Fear of Missing Out.) In the 21st century world, social media has been on the rise as the “new thing” that can revolutionize how humans communicate as a society, gaining explosive popularity given the ease of sharing content and connecting with others. Since most trends are now created online, it’s easy to feel out of date or out of touch when not constantly keeping up with trends on social media platforms. In turn, this can lead to wanting to use social media more, ultimately resulting in greater addiction to the platform.
Social comparison🪞
For teens in particular, FOMO can lead to unrealistic comparisons with others. Watching other people participate in fun activities may lead to some individuals feeling inadequacy and dissatisfaction with their own lives, which can impact feelings of social belonging and negatively affect mental health, promoting negative thinking and self-confidence issues.
Trying to belong 👥
When I first purchased an iPhone and downloaded social media apps including X, WhatsApp, and Reddit, I was shocked at how much I didn’t know about what was in style at that time, or how teens communicated using slang. I felt left behind in a fast-paced and constantly changing world, leading me to use social media for increased periods of time because of my desire to fit in with my friends and join in what was trending on social media.
Managing my social media use
Setting time limits ⌛️
I have now set personal limits on my time on my social media apps. On Apple devices, the Settings app allows one to set a time limit on most social media apps, with a pop-up blocking the user from using certain apps after a certain amount of time. I limit my time on WhatsApp to 15 minutes per day, excluding messages from my parents, to avoid getting distracted from my responsibilities as a student. I also set time limits on apps including X and Reddit to a combined 25 minutes a day, and with each passing day, may opt to lower the number of minutes further. This has allowed me to regain control over my social media use and its impact on me.
Focusing on creativity and connection 🖌️🤝
I still use social media as there are many benefits of having an account. I use social media as a platform to hang out with my friends online, express creativity, entertain myself, and educate myself on various topics. Social media, in my opinion, is a double-edged sword where teens can either make the best out of it or be negatively affected by it. It takes strong self-discipline to avoid the effects of the negative impacts of social media, but the outcomes are worth it.
Steering clear of negative content ❌
As teens, we are constantly influenced by the changing world around us, and due to lack of experience, can be manipulated by others. I am working to avoid being influenced by toxic behaviors which can develop during the teenage years, especially as I am still uncovering who I am and finding my true identity. To remove toxicity and lessen the impact of negative influences online, I steer from reading Instagram posts or WhatsApp updates that might seem overly negative or toxic. Actively reducing my exposure to negative or competitive posts has improved my mental health while still ensuring I can access the parts of social media that I enjoy, in turn helping me to make the most out of online engagement.
About the author
I am Chloe, the 13-year-old author of this blog from Singapore. My passions and interests lie in writing, music, and science. Since I was young, I have always loved different forms of art. Writing and music help me express my thoughts and feelings and they are important channels of expression for me. I hope to inspire others through the arts and my creativity.
Additional Tools and Insights 📚
#GoodforMEdia Guides and Tools: Explore a list of resources created by youth to help their peers and adult allies navigate the positive and negative aspects of social media.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Mental Health in a Digital World Learn insights and strategies for protecting your wellbeing while staying connected.
Breaking Free from Echo Chambers: Insights from Reese Learn more about algorithm-driven recommendations and echo chambers, and how to take back control of your feed.
Share Your Perspective 💬
Have tips, stories, or strategies for healthy social media use? Submit a testimonial to share your perspective and help others navigate online spaces. Learn more and share.