How does Social Media affect teens?

Negatives

Hundreds of social networking sites exist to support a wide variety of interests around the world, according to a 2007 article in the "Journal of Computer-Medicated Communication." These social networking sites connect strangers and friends together, and incorporate a wide variety of communication tools such as blogging, mobile connectivity and photos or videos shared with users. Many of these social networking sites encourage users to upload personal information, multimedia files and photos that can be shared with
others-although, often indiscriminately.

Seventy percent of teens use social networking sites, according to an article on the U.S. Department of Labour website. One of the most serious problems related to these sites concerned safety issues and reports of sexual interactions between adults and minors on MySpace, according to the
"Journal of Computer-Medicated Communication."
Other issues related to privacy concerns include false information posted by online users and unwanted sexual solicitations. Regular use of social media sites also increases the risk of teen alcohol use, according to information from the Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.