Social media is a vast expanse of never-ending words and phrases said in passing to each other behind the letters and symbols of a keyboard. It captures everything from the latest news about celebrities, the births and deaths of family members, parents documenting each and every moment of their child’s upbringing through status updates and pictures on Facebook, to simply the everyday happenings of humans. Social media has been a bigger part of this society for most of these people’s lives. This has opened their lives up to countless opportunities to make different choices. It is possible to find almost everything on the internet from information about any topic that may interest someone, connecting with people across the world, and even the darker spots such as criminal activity. In regards moreover to the omnipotents, social media hit the world like a wave coming to shore, washing us over with endless information and possibilities, but this profoundly positive effect has vastly changed the dynamic of human relationships and the way people interact online and in person in a supremely short amount of time.

First and foremost, humans worry about children on the internet and social media. How it affects health both mental and physical tend to be of highest concern. Yet what also equally concerns us is the effect it seems to have on children's academic career as well. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013) wrote in a passage concerning the effects of social media on youth,”Media use is not without consequence. Studies find that high levels of media use are associated with academic problems, problems with sleep, unhealthy eating, and more.” Consequently, these are the severe health issues which are plaguing today’s children. The Department discusses the unfortunate rise of other weight-related health issues that tend to accompany children who are active on social media(U.S. Dept. Health and Human services, 2013).It is the misuse of this new technology that is impacting youth in such a negative way. Social media possesses the power to mesmerize and draw in youth with its merriment, and then revokes all of it the moment a mistake is made. This effect is the opposite of which the creators of the sites had in mind. They created social media as a way to connect and communicate with others as a means of keeping informed about the world people live in. Thankfully, in most cases this truth reigns supreme. However, an author for PBS points out the current flaws well when she says,” Social media present new possibilities for expression and sociality, but the effect that social media are having on young people is a subject of considerable academic and public concern,” then she continues to write, “Empirical research explores how, for example, young people negotiate friendship networks, represent themselves through blogs and social networking sites, negotiate gender and sexual identities, develop ethics of digital media use, and come of age” (Havlik, 2014). She accepts that social media as intended can have a very positive effect on the population as a whole, however the way it is affecting the youth of said population is a serious area of concern. It has gained the power to impact these children and young adults’ health and social interaction. Unfortunately, this power was never meant to be possessed by social media.

Disregarding the darker recesses of social media where bullies, predators and other negative things hide, it’s wholeheartedly possible that children as a whole are much more responsible than we think when it comes to using social media in a positive way. Youth in the current generations are exponentially more social than ever before, so it is fundamental that there be issues within such a new system. It is unheard of that a project contain no flaws or calamities. Countless children and young adults successfully use social media every day and receive positive results; it has even begun to show formation of virtual empathy. According to Turgeon, “Facebook can also have a positive impact on young adults' lives by helping them be more empathetic, Rosen says. His research shows people who engage in more Facebook activities -- more status updates, more photo uploads, more "likes" -- also display more virtual empathy” (Turgeon, 2011). Basically, Turgeon is saying that youth are beginning to form stronger empathy for others through this avid use of social media. Furthering his view he states, “Of course, it's not all positive news. Among other findings, Rosen discovered a relationship between heavy Facebook use and narcissism in teens” (Turgeon, 2011). He would look rather biased if he didn’t give both sides. Everything has side-effects, social media is no exception to the rule. But a bit of teenage narcissism is worth it for a generation who can empathize and communicate philosophically with each other. Whether or not that’s true, youth have never been more together than as the online collective that they are now.

Communication is an amazing thing, with the power to close current generation gaps. For the past approximately ten or so years, communication and social media have been virtually the same thing. In a way, this merge of communication and social media is a key step in closing the current generational gaps and it mimics what must happen to do so. People converse with people from across the world in the blink of an eye, contrary to before when distant family was much more distant than it is in the present time, and speaking to someone who lived in their town meant travelling all the way to their home. It could almost be called a separated society. And with options like landlines and sending physical letters becoming a hassle, people turn to facebook, twitter, and instagram to communicate with friends, colleagues, family and strangers of any age. It could be said that the first step to closing these gaps and coming together is taking place. Studies have begun to show that in this new age that the older generation has even begun to catch up with the younger generation whom they were previously not in touch with to the extent they are now. Zoe Fox reports that, “Seniors citizens in the United States are finally jumping on the social media bandwagon. This year, 43% of Americans over 65 use at least one social networking site, compared with 26% in 2010 and 1% in 2008” (Fox, 2013). In other words, communication has turned virtual and the majority is on board with this new basis of interaction. Building on the idea of ease of communication what is even more astounding is the hand that this technology has had in closing the current generation gaps. As Fox (2013) writes; the older generation, in an effort to bridge the gap they have tremendously increased their use of this social media. And while their numbers are still less than that of their young counterparts, their rise in use is the highest of all age groups. Everyone is making an effort to adapt to these new forms of communication and technology. Consequently, it is solving countless other problems our society is currently suffering from. While it may seem like this means nothing, that is not true. This is truly a big issue for everyone, for the first time in our history we are all connected. It is bringing our world together, and this connection has helped everyone begin to respect each other on a deeper level.

Contrastingly, not everyone believes that these myriad new forms of communication are such a good thing for solving the problems we face. When faced with the issues of looking at different generations of lives, technology can look more like a stop sign than a green light. Wallop describes generation Z, “ Poor lambs, they are still in their teens and someone has already slapped a label on them,” he then adds to further his point that these children are suffering, “ Too young to remember 9/11, they have grown up in a world in political and financial turmoil” (Wallop, 2014). It is easy to understand that an educated adult from a “different” generation could see it that way and his peers would agree. However, that is because most of them are from the same or similar generations of people. How can it be said that another generation is suffering because they are being labelled when the author is further labelling them by writing that. That is the issue humans face today, nobody gets to speak for themselves and it causes this turmoil and mislabelling. That is why social media is here. So people get a voice, so they do not accept labels given to them by people who have given up trying to connect everyone. It gives everyone a voice, and the ability to find out for themselves who they really are. Unsurprisingly, this is what is going to bring us all together. Social media sees no generation gaps, it only sees everyone as one. Wallop’s point is that the children of today were not prepared for the issues they face online, however it cannot be said that we have not adapted and prospered in the online world that is present today.

Any person asked will give different opinions on social media, whether it is the greatest thing in the world because they can talk to their family across the world or the worst thing because it alienates people, one thing that is clear is the positive effect it has had on all generations of people since it arrived. Before, nobody was simply a click away. Nothing happened in a matter of seconds, and no one was connected. Now, all of these things are possible. Social media sparks movements, condemns actions, closes gaps, and improves human relationships all in one click of a button. It would take a fool to not see that while there are mechanics to work out still, the positive effect it has had in all aspects of the lives of people will have an everlasting impact.