Introduction: Technology has improved dramatically in recent decades, from clunky old plastic computers with super slow internet service and limited information on the web to basic games like pong , to today's super-fast, constantly updated smartphones, watches, laptops, desktops, home devices, all with more power than some of the first space shuttles. Technology is not only improving, but it is also becoming an important part of our daily lives, making it easier and more efficient. Context: The new generation of children is also growing up with the wave of innovative new technologies, especially social media, influencing their identities. Specifically, self-image identity and how others view an individual. Thesis Statement: Social media has a growing effect on young people's identities due to them thinking too seriously about their accounts, cyberbullying/confrontations, and altered/filtered photos, all of which are slowly changing the minds of our young people and their perception of how they view their life. own identity and that of others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Topic Sentence: Online identities are a recent concept, essentially describing and showing who you are for the world to see you online. However this common practice has become more important to people over time as it is a legitimate way to let others see who you are. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to represent who you are accurately online, which results in an inaccurate representation of yourself for all to see. Evidence and quotes: In Identity in a Virtual World by Michelle Jana Chan, Chan states, “You might create a character and enjoy its autonomy at first, but that character then becomes a bigger part of your life.” Comment: This example essentially helps convey that online profiles become a real representation of who a person actually is for some people, which distorts how they see people in the future and in real life. When you create an online profile, it will later become a more important part of your life, reflecting your identity on your profile and creating a false image of yourself in the future. Topic Sentence: Also since the wave of social media, filters on programs like Instagram and Snapchat allow users taking photos of themselves to add this functionality by essentially adding colors, lights and other animations that make skin lighter, reduce the amount of fat on the face and chin and even cover imperfections. Evidence and Quotes: Chris Shearer in his article Filters and photo manipulation on social media sites are creating a generation of deluded teenagers, he explains: “Young people are constantly objectifying themselves in the name of public perception, but has society caused this or is apparently a revolution caused by the rise of social media? Well, in a recent survey 67% of women said they care more about their appearance than finances, relationships or even professional success.” According to Shearer, young adults ( especially women) prioritize their looks and physical appearance more than other very important aspects and responsibilities in life, making social media filters an easy choice when posting a photo or video online Comment: Although one could argue that this improves the confidence of people who use them and promotes people to be more sociable, this is only a short-term solution and a long-term disaster in terms of social identity. The reason for this is because the people whothey slowly believe that these filtered photos are legitimately what they seem. On top of this, people who see filtered photos of others may compare themselves to themselves, losing self-esteem/worth as a byproduct of this. This not only makes others feel worse, but also mentally raises the question when trying to determine if you are interested in or even know the person with a filter or edit photo, creating mistrust and confusion when online. Topic Sentence: In terms of how significantly social media also affects the minds of teenagers, author Angelea Barnes and Christine Blaired in the article, The Effects of Social Media on Children, stated, “Social media can affect the mental health of teenagers. According to research, the level of effect appears to increase as adolescents' consumption increases. Their level of contentment may decrease and their likelihood of getting into trouble or being depressed may increase use Facebook tend to be more narcissistic, antisocial and aggressive.” Comment: according to this passage, social media and all its contents negatively affect teenagers because they are online and are victims of cyberbullying, or they feel bad comparing themselves to other people online who they could also be false, leading to a mindset full of negativity. Evidence and Quotes: Another reason why social media is harmful is because Caroline Miller, in her article Social Media Causes Depression, discusses the studies conducted that show the correlation between social media and children's mental health problems. Miller said: “A 2017 study of more than half a million eighth through twelfth graders found that the number exhibiting high levels of depressive symptoms increased 33 percent between 2010 and 2015. Over the same period, the suicide rate for girls in that age group increased by 65%.” This quote explains how the more girls use social media they also show signs of being less happy overall. The root cause of this goes back to comparisons and the amount of likes people see online. Everyone wants to fit in and seem popular, and it's a common practice to try to have the most fake followers and likes, which essentially represent how well-liked/respected you are. However, many kids get too deep into this type of activity and become fixated on how they present themselves online for others to see. This is very unhealthy, as mostly insecure boys and girls will tend to change their social media feeds or profiles with different content as a way to brand themselves as they like. While this seems acceptable and harmless, most of the time what these kids see are doctored photos that look real, which becomes common for them to imitate, causing many to turn away from themselves and create an altered persona online, and for anyone you try to find out who I really am. Due to the alteration and change of many online profiles, in real life teenagers feel more depressed and less good than others due to the comparison they make online. A continued trend of this type of activity would most likely lead to people constantly focusing on their social status online and in real life, which is unhealthy for anyone, especially students, increasing their insecurities and sensitivities. Some might say that social media and online profiles are useful because they allow for networking and communication practice. However, it is not uncommon for people to create alias accounts or accounts that do not represent who they are at all, sometimes even using other people's photos as if they were.