The current question among students at Bishop Gorman is: Should teens take a break from social media as concerns about digital hygiene grow?
As social media increasingly influences teens’ communication patterns and free time, many are becoming concerned about whether costs outweigh benefits associated with social media use among teenagers.
For some young Gorman students, social media can be an outlet to record memories of their high school years, while for others, social media can be a daily source of pressure. As pressure on social media usage continues, students have taken time to ponder on how social media, including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, affects their lives and their mental health as well.
“When I first started high school, I always found myself on social media,” Emily Slakes ‘27 said. “I posted a lot and checked likes all the time. Over the years, I realized it wasn’t making me happy and a lot more stressed.”
For students who recently started high school, social media contributes to a different effect compared to the older students. This leads to a completely different point of view.
“It helps me stay in touch with friends from middle school,” Elizabeth Cervantez ‘28 said. “But at the same time, it can be overwhelming.”
As for upperclassmen, they tend to talk about a change they notice with regard to their perspective on social media as they get older. They claim that they have learned how to draw limits on their use as they get burned out from using them all the time.
“I feel like once you realize not everything online is real, it gets easier to step back,” Jaelyn Villaflor ‘27 said. “People only post the highlights, and comparing yourself to that isn’t fair.”
Many students believe that even with its downsides, social media still brings value when used in moderation. It gives teens a creative outlet, a way to stay informed, and maintain connections, especially during busy academic schedules. Students say the problem isn’t social media itself, but how the sites can become overwhelming without healthy limits.
As conversations of digital hygiene continue at Gorman, students have become more aware of how their online habits affect them mentally. While different opinions on whether teens should take a full break from social media remain, many agree that being aware of usage is key.
