If you want proof that teens think they’re invincible, just look at their perceptions of social media. According to a recent Pew Research survey, this gen of digital natives believes social media is a wicked temptress—just not for themselves. Yes, they’re fully aware it’s a problem for their peers, but they see themselves as immune to the doom and gloom.
Imagine believing that the same digital rabbit hole that hooks your friends will somehow leave you untouched. It’s like thinking you can stand in the middle of a tornado and come out with perfectly coiffed hair. Spoiler: you can’t.
This optimism, dubbed the ‘bubble effect’, is hilariously ironic. While Gen Alpha scrolls through curated perfection on their feeds, they remain remarkably upbeat about their own mental health. Maybe they’ve got a secret that us older folks missed out on, or maybe they just haven’t looked closely enough at their friends’ despair.
In the end, it’s clear that while social media is a double-edged sword, it’s pretty entertaining to watch them bolster their defenses while the rest of us brace for impact. The question is, will reality catch up with these rose-colored views?
So, what do you think? Are teens just deluded optimists or are they onto something we adults just can’t see?
Leave a Reply