Positive impacts:

1. Connectivity: Social media helps teenagers connect with friends, family, and peers, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
2. Self-expression: Social media platforms provide an outlet for self-expression, creativity, and identity formation.
3. Access to information: Social media offers a vast amount of information, educational resources, and news.
4. Community building: Social media enables teenagers to connect with others who share similar interests and passions.

Negative impacts:

1. Mental health concerns: Excessive social media use has been linked to increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
2. Cyberbullying: Social media can be a breeding ground for bullying, harassment, and online aggression.
3. Sleep deprivation: Exposure to screens and the constant notifications from social media can interfere with sleep patterns.
4. Unrealistic comparisons: Social media platforms showcase curated highlight reels, leading to unrealistic comparisons and decreased self-esteem.
5. Addiction: Social media can be addictive, negatively impacting productivity, relationships, and daily life.
6. Privacy concerns: Social media platforms collect personal data, raising concerns about privacy and online safety.

To mitigate the negative impacts, parents, educators, and teenagers themselves can take steps to promote healthy social media use, such as setting boundaries, encouraging offline activities, and engaging in open conversations about social media use.