RAB Source Entry 2 – Bri

Part 1: MLA Citation

Martin, Jim. “Opinion: How to Protect Teens from Social Media.” The Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2023. DenverPost.com, https://www.denverpost.com/2023/04/18/mental-health-teen-crisis-youth-suicide-social-media/

Part 2: Summary

In the opinion piece “How to Protect Teens from Social Media,” Jim Martin expresses that teenagers are facing a mental health crisis exacerbated by social media. He also mentions that Verizon and the state of Utah are taking steps to address this problem. Martin includes evidence from the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which reported high percentages of students feeling sad and hopeless, even considering suicide in 2021 due to social media. According to Martin, excessive use of social media is negatively affecting teenagers’ mental health by exposing them to cyberbullying, unrealistic body image standards, and addictive behaviors that can lead to low self-esteem. The state of Utah is executing new laws to restrict social media apps for kids and teens, aiming to protect them from the damaging effects of too much social media. Verizon is providing services for parents to control and monitor their children’s social media usage to make being online a safer environment for adolescents. Jim Martin concludes with how the mental well-being of teenagers in the age of social media requires a group effort from parents and communities to ensure a positive online environment for the youth.

Part 3: Reflection

Being an 18-year-old college freshman, I find Martin’s points about the negative impact of social media very relatable. In my own experience, social media has been both a blessing and a curse. Although it allows me to stay connected with family and friends, it has also affected my mental health. I often find myself comparing my own life and appearance to those “picture-perfect” posts, which is not a good habit. When Martin mentioned FOMO, the fear of missing out, it hit close to home. I used to miss out on a lot of things in high school. One time, I asked to go to a party, and my parents said no. I went on social media and saw everyone at that party, which made me feel left out. I also constantly want to use my social media apps so I don’t miss out on any new trends or controversial topics. This led to sleepless nights of scrolling through my apps to stay updated. I agree with taking breaks from social media because it benefits me when I do it. By doing so, I genuinely felt my mental health improve.

Part 4: Rhetorical Analysis

This article is an opinion piece written by Jim Martin. His intended audience is individuals and parents who are concerned about the impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers. The purpose of writing this is to inform readers of the challenges adolescents go through with the use of social media. He also wants to raise awareness of the detrimental impact of excessive social media usage. The tone is persuasive because he is trying to convince the readers of the importance of safely using social media. Martin uses logos by referencing data from the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which provides factual evidence to back up his claim about the mental health crisis. Jim Martin is a credible writer because he publishes a lot of opinion pieces on The Denver Post. The Denver Post is credible because it is one of the largest and most well-established newspapers in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. The website receives roughly six million monthly visitors.

Part 5: Notable Quotables

“Turn off your computer and cellphone, and regain your sanity.” (Martin)

“Spending too much time on social media platforms can lead to addiction.” (Martin)

“This may result in feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and negative body image.” (Martin)