BY RYAN MERARD
Teenagers who regularly log into social media are likely to see drugs and alcohol portrayed in a positive––and sometimes even aspirational––manner. Whether it’s someone smoking, or people doing shots, there are many subtle ways in which alcohol and drugs are displayed as fun and exciting.
It’s not just peers that teenagers see using these substances, but also celebrities who often show themselves drinking and partying. This makes drinking and drug abuse seem normal, and something that everyone does. It could even make some teens feel like they are the only people who do not do these things.
Seeing a celebrity or friend post themselves drinking and smoking may not instantly attract a teen to drugs, but it can cause a spark of curiosity, which is usually the starting point for substance use.
In a study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, researchers found that teenagers who regularly use popular social media outlets were more likely to drink and use drugs than adolescents who either did not use social media or used it less frequently.
Seeing a celebrity or friend post themselves drinking and smoking may not instantly attract a teen to drugs, but it can cause a spark of curiosity, which is usually the starting point for substance use.
Users of social media can control what shows up on their feed to a certain extent. Even when being cautious of the type of people one is following, it still does not completely stop unneeded images from popping up on their screen.
Many kids get into social media as early as middle school, and this can have negative effects. Potentially being exposed to media pertaining to drugs at a young age may lead to more children gaining an interest in substance use because they may see others on the internet doing it regularly.
According to CNN, 12.6 is the average age of kids signed up for social media accounts. With adolescents being vulnerable to perform actions without thinking of the consequences, more and more children may find themselves victims of substance use in the near future.
The prevalence of drinking and drugs across social media can also add more pressure to teens, causing them to be more likely to partake in these activities because it has been normalized on the internet. Just like past high school junior, Dana Chicon once said, social media can make “you think everyone else is having more fun than you.”
Seeing peers and celebrity figures on the internet having a good time by partying and drinking could encourage those who view these videos to drink as well.
Seeing peers and celebrity figures on the internet having a good time by partying and drinking could encourage those who view these videos to drink as well. Peer pressure is often a big reason as to why someone falls to drug use, and regularly seeing other people practice substance use just increases one’s chances of doing it themself.
Social media does not necessarily promote drug use, but rather excessively exposes that type of activity to its users. It all comes down to morals, and whoever is able to control their own instincts. If someone is not easily influenced, a video on Instagram is not going to force anyone to do anything. If someone does choose to partake in substance use, however, it should be a choice solely based on their own beliefs and not influenced by digital media.
Due to the prevalent use of social media in today’s society, many times, people fall to substance use because they’ve seen others do it or they are just trying to fit in, which is not the way it should be.
Photo by Makinzi Burgs
