Though technology has improved our lives physically from the past, how is it effecting high-school students specifically and does it have an overall positive or negative effect?

Greatly differing from the past, when the current generation in high-school reaches adulthood we will have countless media forms allowing us to reminisce on our past. Primarily on social media platforms like Snapchat, kids have been more encouraged to document their lives, whether posting it for the public to see or simply saving it for themselves. But what is this excessive documentation hindering?

Now more than ever in high-school, sports especially, coaches have made it extremely clear to be careful about what you put online. These retributions are endorsed to prevent any inappropriate content to be seen by possible future coaches.

Junior Alina Bernal-Clark plays on the Stephen Decatur women’s lacrosse team and said from a very young age she has been taught to be cautious.

“Every coach I’ve ever had has been very cautious with social media. We constantly get lectured about watching what we post, like, or share. They have all seen amazing students get rejected from college coaches because of inappropriate things they’re involved with on the internet. It would be safer for any student athlete e to just avoid social media all together, however it’s such a huge aspect in every adolescent’s lives,” Bernal-Clark says.

But this risk doesn’t only effect athletes. Having such public lives presents a bigger possibility of being reprimanded for past actions by potential bosses or professors.

“Your social media presence is the image you are presenting to the world and your employers will continue to look at your profiles even after you’ve gotten an offer,” says Marie Claire Magazine.

While it is not certain that this increasing use of technology is having an effect both mentally and physically on adolescents, being exposed to the option of taking so many pictures, videos, and other recordings it is arguably one of the leading factors of an increase of mental health issues.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, among adolescents aged 12 to 17, rates of depression have increased by 52 percent between 2005 and 2017.

“A possible contributing factor in the nation’s rise in mental illness could be the increasing use of social media. Online interaction has taken precedence over face-to-face communication, perpetuating isolation and loneliness. Physical appearance is also heavily stressed on social media and other online platforms,” says Banyan Mental Health on their website.

Even though technology will give this generation the pleasure of looking back on our past, either in awe or regret, the constant use and fast spreading social media can ultimately create a risk for students in their futures.