OPINION: Social media can ruin some relationships but help others

OPINION: Social media can ruin some relationships but help others

Mana Siddiqui
eSomethin Staff

Being “ghosted” may not be your proudest moment. It makes a person feel utter shock or confusion to know that someone they spoke to with interest just blocked or unadd you unexpectedly. 

Ghosting is a process where you text or talk with a person online and they basically disregard you suddenly. It’s the online version of ignoring someone in public, leaving someone with questions unanswered and saved chats discarded.

Snapchat, Tiktok, Instagram are the triple threat to the downfall of teenage relationships and unfortunately might be the reason why high schoolers have a problem with articulating their thoughts into words. 

“I despise social media being used for relationships. It’s taken communication away, and it’s solely based on looks, especially with wdyll,” said Sophie Halm, with a sense of exhaustion in her voice.

The acronym means to “what do you look like” and the phrase is used to ask people for a picture of themselves to send over Snapchat. Unfortunately, one picture of yourself can be taken out of context. Sometimes the person you sent it to might block or unadd you because they think you’re not attractive which kills your ego – or they might make fun of you which…also kills your ego.

Sophie Halm, a junior at Perrysburg High School relates to many other students with the universal “wdyll” experience. It has happened to many students and haunts them with any text message they receive on Snapchat.

Sophie Halm, a junior at PHS holds up her phone showing up her social media apps with a face of disgust. Sophie Halm despises social media and the effect it has on socialization. (Photo credit: Mana Siddiqui)

As social media has adapted so has teens’ use of different apps. Sometimes social media isn’t only used for relationships but also for stalking different accounts, making fake accounts, and forming opinions based on physical appearances. 

Kenneth Morgan, a junior, prefers Instagram for the majority of his social media use. He said while it does let him engage in sharing posts and reels, there have been some cases where he says that relationships on social media have really opened his eyes. 

“Due to lack of communication and just some jealousy and other problems. It has affected my views on relationships…and how it can destroy them,” Morgan said. 

In a later moment he said that “a lot can go wrong by following or unfollowing people and that can affect a relationship by having conflicted views,” Morgan said.

Kennidee Schley, freshman at PHS, brought a different perspective. She believed that social media is not only fun to use but also helped her find her relationship – she can communicate with her friends in general. She said that without social media she wouldn’t have been able to meet some of her now very close friends.

“I can Facetime my crushes and when we call it’s fun because we can talk without it being awkward. I feel like my relationships with guys and my friends have gone good because of it,” Schley said.

Kennidee Schley holds up her phone, smiling. She snaps her friends on Snapchat! “Snapping” is taking a picture and sending it to friends! She loves social media, especially Snacat because she meets so many of her friends on the app.

Ethan Uday, a sophomore, had a yet another outlook towards social media. He related to what Schley had stated above about how she’s able to communicate with her friends and crushes but later claimed that social media plays a large factor in the relationship. But, a level of trust should exist in between relationships with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Uday encourages relationships to be loyal and trustworthy. 

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