Social media are digital platforms that allow people to connect, share information, and interact with each other online. 

The concept of social media started in the 1070s, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The first social networks emerged in the late 1990s, with websites like SixDegrees.com and Classmates.com, allowing users to create profiles and connect with others.

In the early 2000s, social networks like Friendster and MySpace became popular. Facebook launched in 2004 and quickly became one of the most widely used platforms. 

Different types of social media came to life: Video sharing (YouTube, 2005), Microblogging (Twitter, 2006), Photo sharing (Instagram, 2010), and Professional networking (LinkedIn, 2002).

With the rise of smartphones, social media has become more accessible and integrated into daily life. 

In 2011, 80% of US adolescents used at least one social media platform. By 2015, 71% of American teens reported using more than one social media platform. By 2015, 73% of teens had access to smartphones, using social media on them. Instagram and Snapchat gained significant popularity among teens by 2015. By 2015, 33% of teens with phones were using messaging apps like Kik or WhatsApp. Girls became more dominant in social media use, preferring Instagram and other visually-oriented platforms. 

We are using statistics from the Pew Research Center

Around 2011, researchers began noticing a dramatic increase in cases of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among teenagers.

Today, nearly 95% of teens aged 13-17 use social media. This high level of engagement increases exposure to potential negative effects, especially if teenagers consume information on social media for longer than three hours a day. Especially in girls, researchers observed an increase in eating disorders, suffering from online harassment and cyberbullying, low self-esteem, and poor body image.

Several countries and US states have recently attempted to regulate social media access for teenagers by increasing the minimum age requirement, for example from 13 and 14 to 16. 

We recommend all parents to read Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.” Haidt argues that the transition from a play-based to a phone-based youth has rewired childhood and disrupted social and neurological development, leading to issues such as social anxiety, sleep deprivation, and addiction to smartphones.

Besides, there is a fabulous book by Diana Graber, “Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology.” This book focuses on teaching children to use technology as a tool to enhance their lives rather than letting it control them. 

There are positive effects of social media if teens use them for a limited amount of time and with purpose.

Many social media platforms encourage creativity and finding positive role models online.

The Girl in “Romy and Roby” has an Instagram account, because she started playing the piano at the age of four. She follows Alma Deutscher, a celebrated music prodigies on Twitter (X) and YouTube, a violinist Esther Abrami on TikTok, a violinist Chloe Chua on YouTube and Instagram, and a pianist Nathan Chen on TikTok. The Girl loves watching practice routines, and daily updates about their lives as musicians.