The Unseen Costs of Social Media: A Generation’s Dilemma

Ozi
4 min readSep 28, 2024

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Photo by dlxmedia.hu on Unsplash

I vividly remember the rise of Facebook during my middle school years, followed by the launch of Instagram. At first, I was hesitant to join — I was already distancing myself from Facebook and Twitter, and the idea of diving into yet another social media platform felt overwhelming. Yet, the social pressure was hard to ignore — without Instagram, I knew I’d feel left out. So, I gave in, and that’s where my story, like many of my fellow Gen Zers, begins. Ours is a generation that grew up alongside social media, often unaware of the lasting impact of living constantly online.

I clearly remember my father, a Baby Boomer who kept up with the tech trends of his time, offering me a warning about oversharing on Facebook. “Don’t upload personal photos,” he’d advise. He was always cautious about the information we shared online, instilling in me a sense of digital awareness that I’m especially grateful for — especially as social media exploded in popularity within my generation.

As historian Yuval Noah Harari observed, today’s generation spends an extraordinary amount of time glued to screens. This concern is echoed by Dr. Zubin Damania, a Stanford-educated physician, who warns about these platforms' profound impact on our brain’s neural systems. Fearing the addictive nature of social media, Dr. Damania has even banned his own daughters from using it.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt sheds further light on the issue in The Social Dilemma documentary. Since 2011, anxiety and depression rates among American teenagers have skyrocketed — rising by 62% among older teen girls and an alarming 189% for preteens. Haidt attributes much of this increase to the surge of social media, which he notes also correlates with a disturbing rise in youth suicide rates.

Gen Z is the first generation to have been introduced to social media during middle school — a time when our brains were still in the critical stages of development. As a result, we’ve essentially grown up as products of these platforms, perfectly captured by the saying: “If you’re not paying for it, you’re the product.”

This paradox presents a real dilemma: On one hand, social media exposes us to valuable information and keeps us informed about topics we might otherwise never encounter. On the other hand, the addictive mechanisms engineered into these platforms trap us in an endless cycle of seeking validation and overexposing ourselves.

Even more troubling is the growing polarization of the world. Fake news stokes conflicts, deepens societal divides, and boosts engagement for tech companies, ultimately inflating their profits. This kind of manipulation is far from the freedom of speech we once envisioned for the digital age. Sadly, the ease with which misinformation spreads only widens these fractures. Many, like Wael Ghonim — a former Google employee who voiced his concerns about the destructive trajectory of social media — fall victim to false narratives, yet their warnings are largely ignored by Silicon Valley.

Governments around the world must take decisive action by enforcing stricter regulations on social media usage. We need stronger laws addressing privacy, anti-trust violations, and civil rights to minimize the damage these platforms have caused. As highlighted in The Social Dilemma documentary, even the creators of these platforms, like Tristan Harris (former Google ethicist) and Sandy Parakilas (former Facebook operations manager), have since become alarmed by the negative impact of their work. Both have left their roles, acknowledging the significant harm social media has inflicted on society. Parakilas, in particular, became disillusioned by Facebook’s relentless focus on growth at the expense of ethical responsibility, prompting him to leave the company altogether.

As we constantly expose ourselves to social media, its algorithm-driven nature makes us vulnerable to snap judgments by others. The anxiety of being misinterpreted or judged based on what we post has become a reality for many. Without proper self-control, social media becomes a risky environment — not just for us, but for future generations who will likely encounter these platforms long before they fully understand the importance of self-regulation. This lack of awareness can amplify the dangers, making social media an even more challenging space to navigate.

During an interview, Mark Zuckerberg was asked point-blank if his work was violating people’s privacy. The question visibly unsettled him, leaving him sweating and uncomfortable — a telling sign of the moral ambiguity these platforms face.

As we continue to navigate this evolving digital era, it’s crucial to remain mindful of both the long-term benefits and potential consequences of our actions. While it’s easy to be mesmerized by the allure of technological advancements, we must also confront the darker aspects of innovation. Our focus should shift toward creating a future that prioritizes human well-being over profit.

In conclusion, as we move forward in this rapidly changing digital landscape, it is essential for us to critically examine the impact of social media on our lives and society at large. We must advocate for greater accountability and ethical practices within tech companies, ensuring that technological advancements serve humanity rather than exploit it. By fostering a culture of awareness and responsibility, we can pave the way for a healthier relationship with technology — one that empowers individuals, nurtures genuine connections, and prioritizes mental well-being for both current and future generations. Only then can we hope to navigate the complexities of social media while reaping its benefits without succumbing to its pitfalls.

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Ozi

I captured each moment through the art of writing