If you were to look at communication today versus 100 years ago, it is clear that advancements in technology have significantly improved our ways of interacting. Not only have our means of talking to one another changed, but so has the amount of time individuals spend online. 

For instance, in the 1950s, the only forms of communication were through landlines, newspapers, letters, radio and speaking in person. In 2025, advancements in technology have completely wiped out the once normal forms of communication. 

Now, the primary means of talking to one another is through social media, texting and FaceTime. Specifically, the No. 1 form of communication is through sites like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. 

While such improvements have allowed individuals to stay better connected and grow social networks, the negative effects of social media are more than concerning. Across all age groups, social media usage is linked to numerous mental health issues, such as heightened anxiety, depression and loneliness, according to the Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago. These harmful feelings arise from things like comparison to others and cyberbullying. 

These growing problems have begun to affect more and more children, as there has been an increased number of kids on social media sites. These children are known as iPad kids, which is a child who has an excessive amount of screen time. The difficulties that arise with early introduction to social media are endless, ranging from mental health issues and physical declines.

For starters, when children begin using social media at a young age, they are more likely to feel insecure about themselves. This is due to comparison culture, which is when individuals compare themselves to unrealistic standards online. This is linked to low self-esteem and feelings of self-doubt. 

Not to mention, the Atlantic Health System found that half of American kids online use beauty filters at least once a week due to damaging comparisons. Additionally, the more time kids spend online, the more likely they are to be dissatisfied with their appearance and weight. The false realities online hinder a child’s self-worth. When a child develops such detrimental feelings at a young age, it is harder to erase the feelings as they get older. 

In addition to this, social media usage is linked to poor physical health in young children. A common term in youth vocabulary is FOMO (fear of missing out), which leads children to spend an extended amount of time online to ensure they are staying up to date with their peers. 

The endless scrolling is linked to many physical injuries, such as joint inflammation, neck pain, gamer’s thumb and damaged vision. 

It is also important to note that social media is associated with sleep disruption in young children. Because technology screens emit blue light, the production of melatonin is affected, which makes it harder for children to fall asleep. This leads to increased fatigue and mood swings. 

Social media usage poses a threat to millions of young kids. According to John Hopkins Medicine, the more time a child spends online, the more likely they are to experience negative emotions. 

We live in a world that was once united through in-person interactions. However, we have shifted to digital interactions that are not only less sincere but also create more trouble for individuals. 

The children of this day and age will eventually be the adults leading the next generation. We must limit the amount of time these children spend online to ensure that they do not grow up with inadequate mental health. Most importantly, we must restore communication back to a more heartfelt, genuine model