The teenage demographic is the epicenter for social media use. With social media exponentially rising in popularity, it is easier than ever for kids to gain access to these platforms. In such a short period of time, social media has become an essential part of the majority of people’s lives.

Social media has grown to impact kids, teens, and adults all over the world. It’s used for talking, texting, sharing a photo or even just saying something for the world to know. There are many apps for online communication like Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and many more.

The people in the world today rely heavily on their pocket computers, in fact, many admitted to not being able to live without it. Teenagers are more impacted by their phones due to the fact that they have spent the better halves of their lives with them. Adults, however, were able to experience the world before all of the apps and phones. 

Throughout the United States, 79% of the population has at least one social network profile. Although larger countries like India and China have a majority of the world’s social network users, the US currently has one of the highest social network penetration rates, tied with Central Asia. 

A survey was done by the Pew Research Center to determine the rate of social media usage among teenagers. They found that 95% of teenagers asked have access to a smartphone or a similar kind of device, and 45% reported being online a majority of the day. With apps like Snapchat and Instagram ruling social media, it is easier than ever for teenagers to gain access and develop a dependency on these apps.

When asking three students at Central Kitsap High School if they could live without their smartphones they all gave very similar answers. We asked what apps they use, how often they use them, and if they could live without their phone and if so for how long. Darnell Green, a sophomore at Central responded to whether he could live without his phone saying that “I use my phone every day. I couldn’t live without it. Simple as that.” 

 Freshman Josiah Johnson explains why he has no choice but to live without his cell phone, saying “I got grounded so that sucks because I don’t get to use my phone.” This is fully understood since phones are so important to teens that it is the first thing taken away for punishment by parents and guardians.

Senior Megan Green responded to how long she could go without her phone, saying “Probably about a week before I start to break down.” She said she uses more apps than others but admits that she uses at least a majority at some point in the week or another.

Social media is used more to communicate nowadays than actually verbally talking. In the past ten years, we have grown so attached to our phones that were separated by them is often difficult and we don’t know how to act.