Social media makes many things in life a whole lot easier. Staying on top of the news. Finding out what your friends are up to. Following Harry Styles’ every move. But it also complicates stuff, too.
According to a brand-new study, an eyebrow-raising 52% of people between the ages of 13 and 17 believe their teen years would be better without social media. Even more interesting? A whopping 92% are current social media users. Why are people spending so much time on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram when they think they’d be better off without it?
Um…how much time do you have? In short, it’s complicated. FOMO, as we all know, is a real thing and while it may seem like life would be easier if social media didn’t exist, simply deactivating Facebook or deleting Instagram is a big commitment that has some pretty major downsides attached. As much of a bummer as it can be, social media makes staying on top of things—and in touch with friends—a lot easier easier.
Another totally fascinating finding from the study: While 40% of teens think their appearance is judged more harshly online than IRL, 87% cop to frequently posting selfies.
Social media, man! Can’t live with it, can’t live without it.
