In the Spring of 2026, people of all ages are being affected by social media in their daily lives. At schools and in communities, many are asking whether social media is bringing people together or creating more division among them.
When asked how social media affects relationships between students in class, Ms. Pan, a teacher at Liberty High School, said that it can have both positive and negative effects. She explained that social media can sometimes help students stay connected. “I think social media in its ideal form can really bring people together. For example, the school’s Instagram page shares community events that students can look at and share with their classmates,” she said. However, she believes that social media is often used in ways that harm student relationships. According to Ms. Pan, many people use social media to judge others, send unkind messages, or compare themselves to others, which can also affect mental health. She explained that social media can distract students from their schoolwork. “Social media was purposely created to be addictive. The development of algorithms keeps people scrolling and keeps students’ attention on their phones,” she said. Ms. Pan added that before phones were banned across the city, it was a daily problem in her classroom, which is why she used to collect students’ phones at the beginning of class.
Social media can also affect how people feel about their real-life relationships. Mr. Robert, a school aide at Liberty High School, explained that it is important to notice how social media influences daily interactions. “I notice whether social media leads to real conversations and connections in my life,” he said. According to him, if social media helps people stay in touch and strengthen their relationships, then it can be positive. However, he said that if it replaces real interaction or becomes only a distraction, it may not be helpful. Mr. Robert also explained that social media can sometimes cause loneliness through comparison. “I would notice if I start comparing my life to others online and feeling worse about myself,” he said. “If social media makes me feel insecure, left out, or less satisfied with my real life, that is a sign it might be causing loneliness through comparison.” This is a similar thought to Ms. Pan’s previous comment about social media causing mental health issues.
Schools also play an important role in helping students understand how to use social media responsibly. Ms. Chu, a counselor at Liberty High School, believes that students should learn about both the benefits and the risks of social media. “Yes, schools should teach students both the positive and negative points of social media so students can make educated decisions,” she said. She also explained that these lessons should be taught carefully so students clearly understand how to use social media responsibly. In addition, Ms. Chu shared advice for students who want to avoid conflicts online. “One piece of advice for everyone is not to share too much information about yourself,” she said. “General updates are okay, but people need to be careful. Also, try not to focus too much on how many likes you get.”
Students also shared their perspective about how people behave on social media. Oumou Sall, a student at Liberty High School, believes that people often act differently online than they do in real life. “Yes, I think people act differently online than in real life,” she said. “Sometimes people are afraid that others will judge them or say negative things, so they don’t show their real personality online. Some people are also scared of what others might say if they truly express themselves.” Oumou Sall also said that if she could change something about social media, it would be the amount of bullying that happens online. “People sometimes have too much power on social media to bully others or say hurtful things,” she explained. “Because they are not face-to-face, they feel more comfortable saying things that can affect someone’s mental health. I think that is something that should change.”
Ultimately, social media has positive and negative effects on people. Specifically, the negative effects are more apparent these days, so people should pay attention to what they should or should not share on social media.
