Is Social Media Good Or Bad For Teens

The debate rages on: Is using social media good or bad for teens?

The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, recently released an advisory report which is calling attention to the fact that many believe that the use of social media is a contributing factor to feelings of depression and anxiety in our nation's teenagers. His cautionary warnings also mentioned that there is not enough solid evidence regarding just how much social media use affects the mental health of children and adolescents as well.

According to an article written by David West Jr. on NPR.org, Murthy's report says social media use "can perpetuate 'body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls.'" The Surgeon General is calling on tech companies, social media platforms, and government officials to step in to provide safeguards to protect our country's youth.

The debate stems from the fact that many people feel the government should not be getting involved in curtailing the use of social media by any U.S. citizens. An article written by Robby Soave on Reason.com lays out opposing arguments which state "that what occurs on social media is First Amendment-protected speech." He argues that parents should be the ones who talk to their children, adolescents, and teenagers about how often and when they are allowed to use social media.

Soave cites research from Murthy's report which shows that adolescents and teens are using social media to connect with friends, show their creativity, and help them get through tough times.

So, what are your opinions? Is using social media good or bad for teens? Should lawmakers get involved, or should they leave these decision to parents? The debate rages on...

Social Media Abbreviations are a whole language now.

This might wind up being a test, to either make you feel old - or young if you nail it.  Below are the most popular abbreviations people use online.

Millennials and Gen-Zers of the world have taken technology and run with it, which is understandable considering they are the ones who grew up with it literally at their fingertips. They are natives to the worlds of technology, whereas the generations before them are all immigrants to the world of technology.

Do you wonder why so many things are abbreviated now? Believe it or not, people didn't start abbreviating just to look cool. It actually started because of social media character limits.

Twitter is especially known for this because the platform used to only allow up to 140 characters in a single tweet, leaving lost tweeters to figure out how to make their messages short, sweet and to the point.

As Twitter was mostly being used by millennials and Gen-Zers in the beginning, they started to create their own language, with abbreviations. Twitter now allows up to 280 characters in a tweet, but the abbreviations aren't going away any time soon, because they have become their own language.

Sometimes it's difficult to keep up with all the latest slang, but I'm here to help!

So, here are some of the most popular internet abbreviations that are commonly used online, and definitely in text messages, so you don't have to keep scratching your head in confusion every time you get a text from your kids.

If you're paying attention even a little, you probably know a lot of these.  Like LOL - "laugh out loud," (no Aunt Mildred, it's not "lots of love," but thank you!) and FYI means "for your information"

Great start! But how many of these other ones do you know?  Here's a ranking - we'll start out easy, then get a little harder.

-Carla Rea

Direct Message. As the kids say, "it goes down in the DM." Sometimes, we share memes, recipes and pictures through direct messages.

4zevar via Getty Images

Just Kidding. It's a pretty common one that can totally change the tone of your text.

Robert Daly via Getty Images

Be Right Back. Sometimes, we just want to "brb" in real life.

Jack N. Mohr via Getty Images

To Be Honest. I don't know when's the last time I used this. But, I enjoy sprinkling this in my texting vocabulary every now and then.

AtnoYdur via Getty Images

In Real Life. This is when you need to give someone a dose of a reality check. You can use it in the context of "in real life, this wouldn't be a big deal."

Artur via Getty Images

Not Safe for Work. This one seems to be used during the golden age of texting abbreviations, which can be said to be around 2007 - 2010. This is when we were truly communicating through shorthanded abbreviations and keyboard emojis.

damedeeso via Getty Images

Talk To You Later. This is another great one that you can still use either in a sarcastic manner or a real-life meaning.

Bohdan Skrypnyk via Getty Images

No Big Deal. This can make a situation calmer and can change the tone of your text to convey different messages.

Jarmo Piironen via Getty Images

In My Opinion and In My Humble Opinion. Another one that I use sparingly. "IMO, I think the Chipotle on Rainbow is better."

isiddheshm via Getty Images

For The Win

Oscar Gutierrez Zozulia via Getty Images

Shaking My Head. You can say this one when disapproving of someone's actions!

Siri Stafford via Getty Images

I Don't Know. Sometimes, this is the perfect response.

Deagreez via Getty Images

I Don't Care. Enough said.

zGel via Getty Images

Short for the word "Message."

Dacian_G via Getty Images

On My Way

Nadzezhda Paliakovavia Getty Images

Got To Go. You can use this if someone makes a funny or crude joke. "GTG from this convo!"

Makidotvn via Getty Images

That Feeling When . . . you learn great texting lingo.

Robert Daly via Getty Images

"My Face When."

max-kegfire via Getty Images

I Love You. A very common one that many of us know.

Sudowoodo via Getty Images

 I Miss You  (Yes, a 'U' even though the word "you" starts with a 'Y'.)

worldofvector via Getty Images

In Case You Missed It!

ALLVISIONN via Getty Images

Short for the word "seriously"

Bastian via Getty Images

Too Long Didn't Read

RoMiEg via Getty Images

It actually stands for Before Anyone Else.  (Bae is also just short for "baby" or "babe.")

sidewaysdesign via Getty Images

Story Of My Life

Social Media Abbreviation Via Getty Images

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Larry Martino is the long-time Afternoon Drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.