Social Media More Harmful Than Beneficial For Indonesian Youth?

Social Media More Harmful Than Beneficial For Indonesian Youth?

In Indonesia, some people may be familiar with the internet. Almost 99% of internet users aged 16-24 have social media. But is this a gift or a trial? The growth in the number of internet users is increasing in Indonesia. As of today, by 2024 as many as 221.56 million people or equivalent to 79.5% of the total population of Indonesia are internet users. It is not surprising that many of their daily activities do not escape the use of the internet. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are commonly used in their daily routines, as a means of communication, to express themselves, to find out things that happen around, and many other functions. However, the impact of using the internet and social media can be a serious challenge. Issues such as cyberbullying, false information, and pressure for things that are unrealistic to our real life such as the idealized life of celebrities can make internet users want to follow suit. Moreover, the addictive nature of these platforms is screen time and worsens mental health. While the benefits of social media are evident, here the essay argues that its negative impacts, such as diminished in person interactions and digital toxicity, ultimately outweigh its advantages for Indonesian youth. 

Social media cannot be separated from the daily lives of Indonesian youth, let alone from any aspect of life. Many use social media to build connections and networks, which is one of the main benefits. Through platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, WhatsApp, or others they can connect with peers and friends from different regions, share ideas, and even access opportunities that are beneficial to them. Many young people want to get scholarships abroad and they get information from the above platforms or they join communities. There are also many platforms that provide learning or volunteer programs, which can open their minds to the world. In addition, the good side of social media is that it is very easy for us to access information. With platforms like YouTube and TikTok, we can watch various tutorials including learning tutorials, get the latest information, and many others. Many students utilize social media as a tool to help with school assignments and projects or to prepare for exams in order to learn more effectively. As for the other benefits of social media, it opens up entrepreneurial opportunities in the world of entrepreneurship. Many business beginners want to be successful in starting their production. By utilizing social media they can promote their business with interesting content, then upload videos on one of the platforms. In order to reach customers, many business people pay social media celebrities who have a large following to promote their business. Utilizing social media well has a very good effect on us too.

While there are many benefits of social media, there are also many negative impacts onIndonesian youth that cannot be ignored. Mental health is one of the most common concerns. Excessive social media use is sometimes associated with anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Many young people often compare their lifestyles with influencers or friends who look more attractive or successful on social media, which can trigger feelings of malaise or worthlessness. From year to year, mental health cases among Indonesian adolescents have increased, one of which is due to the pressure caused by social media. In addition, social media is also a means of cyberbullying. Many users are victims or targets of online bullying through negative comments, parody videos, verbal abuse, or unauthorized sharing of personal information. Several cases from Indonesia have grabbed national attention, showing how sad and serious this problem is. Addiction to social media has also led to a decline in human productivity. Youth often spend their time scrolling through social media platforms for hours on end, and this causes disruption to their study hours, work hours, or family time. As a result, their academic performance suffers as well as their social relationships. Even worse, social media makes it easier to spread misinformation and dangerous ideologies. Hoaxes, propaganda, and inappropriate content are often widespread and accessible, influencing the views and behaviors of youth. For example, the spread of hoaxes or calls to extreme measures that can cause unrest also endangers them. With all this in mind, the negative impact of social media should be a serious concern for all Indonesians.

Some would argue that social media also provides great educational and career opportunities for young Indonesians. Indeed, platforms such as LinkedIn or YouTube offer a wide range of access to learning and employment opportunities. However, these benefits can be achieved through regular and well-controlled use of social media. With judicious use, good screen time, and monitoring of the content that users access, youth can still optimally benefit from social media without damaging their mental health and productivity. This more balanced use is important to ensure that social media utilization does not lead to addiction or exposure to harmful content. Another common argument is that youth need social media to stay connected in today's digital age. In an increasingly technology-first society, social media is indeed a key tool for communicating with each other. However, an over-reliance on social media relationships also often damages real-world relationships. Time that should be spent interacting face-to-face is reduced due to online interactions. More meaningful face-to-face interactions with family and friends are greatly reduced. In this case, it is important to establish a balance between virtual connections and real relationships. By reducing screen time and encouraging in-person interactions, it also reinforces healthier and deeper social connections. Thus, while social media provides benefits in certain respects, its negative influence can be minimized through controlled and balanced use. This approach ensures that Indonesian youth can still utilize the technological advantages of social media without neglecting other important aspects of their lives.

Social media, while it offers various benefits such as connectivity, educational opportunities, and other exciting opportunities, has negative impacts that cannot be ignored. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, rampant cases of cyberbullying, and reduced real-life social interactions pose a serious threat to Indonesian youth. In addition, the spread of misinformation and exposure to inappropriate content further exacerbates the situation. Thus, while the benefits of social media are numerous and seem very promising, the adverse impact on Indonesian youth's mental health, social relationships and culture is much greater and needs to be a major concern for society. To address this issue, concrete steps need to be taken by various parties. Firstly, the use of social media must be regulated wisely as well as individuals or families who accompany them, to ensure that the content accessed is useful as well as maintaining a wise screen time.Second, digital literacy education must be developed and become part of the school curriculum so that young people are more critical in responding to and filtering information on social media and understand how dangerous cyberspace is. Third, the government and certain parties need to implement policies that protect young users, such as tightening rules and privacy, accelerating the prosecution of cyberbullying cases. With these steps, Indonesian youth can utilize social media optimally and hopefully not be trapped in its negative impact. The future of young generations will be more secure if social media is used as a tool for growth, not as a source of pressure or a source of danger. Let's work together to create a healthier and safer digital environment for Indonesian youth.