Social Media Phenomena

By: Agatha 10C (10 level A)
Nowadays, most teenagers have a device that is installed with some social media programs, like Twitter, BBM, LINE, Path, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Social Media lets people easily share their experiences, moments (as in photos and videos), ideas, and of course, to communicate with people all over the world. But, not only are the conveniences positive, social media can have a bad impact on our lives, especially for teenagers.
Social media makes everything easier in every way, but because of that, some people misuse social media to judge, blackmail, or ‘cyber-bully' others. Some just carelessly speak their mind or make a joke but they don't think what people will think or feel about their feeds.

From my experience –whether from what I read on internet or what I see in my daily life-when a friend (X) – usually a girl – has  a problem with another friend (T), she (X) will probably share her feelings and express her madness with no mercy and no thought that people will read it and think bad about the person that she has a problem with. No one is sure who to blame. But she (X) makes it looks like she is in a disadvantaged position. Obviously people can blame that other girl and blame for what she did. On the other hand, the one who takes the blame will feel the pressure and it will be hard for people to believe what she (T) says. From this state, as a teenage girl (T) who has an unstable state of mind, she (T) will be depressed and easily become cranky. So, to reduce it, a parents’ and school’s role are really important to protect her so that she will feel safe and also guide her not to do bad things, such as commit suicide or do drugs to solve the problem, but give her advice and strength to get through it wisely. As ‘real’ friends, they have to cheer her (T) up and be with her so that she won’t feel lonely.

In Indonesia, there are a lot of news stories about kidnapping through Facebook that will probably end up being a murder case. Frequently, these involved teenagers that are easily wooed or persuaded. The suspect – most of them are male – usually ask the victim to meet up. Even though they haven’t known each other for long time, the victim easily agrees to hang out together. Most of the victims are the type of uncommunicative person, so they do the meeting secretly. In this case, I really think parents should at least know what their children do. They should have had conversations with their children once in a while. Parents must care and know their children better so they can prevent things like this from happening.

As for us, teenagers, we have to know and analyze our surroundings. We must be able to distinguish what is good what is bad for us. We have to control our emotions and egos better. Think twice before doing something that can harm other people. Think twice before we act. Think twice before we write something on social media, because people might use it as a weapon to attack you back.