There has been a multitude of positive outcomes that have come along with the increased usage of social media within our world: easier access to information and current events, increased communication with people from across the globe, long-distance family connections, the list goes on and on. In many ways, social media has taken what was once thought to be impossible and turned it into a reality (Tang-Mui 30). However, this seemingly euphoric reality has come at a price. There are also many negative repercussions that have come along with this digital age. Today’s youth spends over seven and a half hours a day on social media (Belfort). That is seven hours a day spent in isolation from those around you. According to recent research studies, increased social media dependence has lead to an unhealthy self-awareness that has lead to needing instant gratification via social media platforms (Yadav, Rai 111). When young people feel insecure or inferior within the means of their lives, social media has become the answer. As a result, social media has become a place in which everyone is posting themselves living their best life. While scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, more often than not we are seeing an idealized version of each individual’s life, not the reality. These idealized profiles have had an overall negative effect on this cycle because it puts each person in completion with the other, and formulates a deep-rooted addiction to posting on social media sites (Brooks, Longstreet 74). Thoughts like “Oh my gosh she is always eating healthy” or “Oh my gosh she is always at the beach with friends, and I’m alone in my room” are a constant and have had observable impacts on this generation of people. Studies have even shown that social media usage within the youth has shown a decrease in in-person day to day participation (Salman 78). Researchers state that this evident disconnect within today’s youth has led to increases in teen depression, suicide, and anxiety (Shensa 116-128). The excessive time being spent behind phone and computer screens has decreased the youth’s ability to connect to their own physical lives (Jaipur). Researchers elaborate stating that in many ways, this artificial life being led within the walls of the internet has kept teens from experiencing and dealing with the emotions that they could be experiencing in the real world (Jaipur). 
     On the other hand, some researchers say that the rise of social media has helped young people become more connected to politics, current events, and environmental issues (Andersson, Öhman 465-466). These researchers claim that the increase of knowledge regarding these aspects of human life has increased the youth's participation in productive activities that revolve around thinking and learning (Andersson, Öhman 465-466). Social media has also proved to give a strong artistic voice and outlet to members of today’s youth, granting them a platform for their work to be seen and heard (Belfort). This sharing of artistic and political expression has found a way to connect masses of people that would have never met otherwise (Belfort). However, other researchers state that participation in social engagements online have decreased interest in personal engagements in person (Mihailidis 13). 
     Through analyzing the good and the bad, social media has proved to be a double edge sword that offers to give us the world at our fingertips, but at what expense? We have the world living in our phone screens, yet studies increasingly show that we are disconnecting from the world directly around us (Yadav, Rai 111). This disconnect can be closely analyzed through the simplest routines of living.