The rise of social media has reshaped how people communicate, socialize, and even view themselves, especially for Generation Z. This is confirmed by a recent study commissioned by LG Electronics, in which 53% of Gen Zers said they have little to no control over the content that comes up on their social media feeds. Even more concerning, three out of every four Gen Zers associate social media use with an adverse impact on their mental health, according to LG Electronics. 

Big Sky High School students are not an exception, as many express mixed feelings about their online experiences and the toll it takes on their well being.

For students like Milo Mateer, a 16-year-old junior at Big Sky, social media platforms like Instagram and Tiktok often bring feelings of inadequacy. 

“I follow so many influencers and sometimes I find myself comparing my life to theirs,” Mateer shared. “It’s hard not to get caught up in the pressure to be perfect or to have what everyone else seems to have.”

Mateer shared that it’s often the highlight reel-feeling of social media that makes him think he isn’t measuring up, affecting his self-esteem and overall mental health. 

In a recent interview, Big Sky freshmen counselor Leslie Guerreri, echoed some of Mateer’s thoughts on the impact of social media on teenagers, and discussed her opinion of social media as a whole. 

“I think it does play a role in students keeping in touch with one another,” Guerreri said. “But on the flip side of that, it is a really good medium for creating drama, a lot of hurt feelings, and it can be used really badly and in ways that are really harmful,” Guerreri said. 

Another student, Anderson Echohawk, 17, a junior at Big Sky, spoke about the constant bombardment of information on his feeds, which is another negative aspect of social media platforms.

“It feels like there’s always something happening—-whether it’s the latest viral trend, political debate, or personal drama,” he said. “It’s exhausting, I often feel like I’m being pulled in a thousand different directions. It makes it hard to concentrate or feel at peace.”

Echohawk is particularly concerned about the growing prevalence of online bullying and the pressure to stay connected, even if it means sacrificing mental well-being. 

“I really think there’s no greater issue than social media on our campus,” Echohawk said. 

Teachers are also noticing the growing influence of social media on students’ priorities. Big Sky English teacher Aaron Fortner said “I’ve seen kids choose social media over  school.”  

As a teacher, he has seen the impact of social media on the students he teaches over the years. 

Yet the effects of social media seem to go beyond just academic performance. Many students are increasingly prioritizing their presence and digital entertainment over real world engagement. Fortner discussed how this shift in priorities has led to a noticeable change in behavior, with fewer students seeking social experiences or outdoor activities. Instead, the time once spent on sports or clubs is now often dedicated to endless scrolling or watching videos on social platforms.

As both a teacher and a father, Fortner sees the impact of social media from two perspectives:inside the classroom and within his own home. 

“It’s tough because kids are growing up in a world where it’s best to just scroll through social media over doing activities outside,” Fortner said, “Kids have an inherent need to socialize and how they do it is on their phones through snapchat or instagram.” 

Fortner acknowledges the benefits of staying connected, but believes there’s more drawbacks than benefits. “Often my kids(students) self-report their screen times which average from about 3-5 hours a day,” he said.  The national average is 5-6 hours a day, according to Harmony Health. 

Fortner continued. 

“We (the Big Sky Teachers) recently had a meeting about this exact issue, and overall kids have decided to be less risky overall, preferring watching TV over going out,” Fortner said.  He noted that students are more likely to stay indoors scrolling through social media rather than participating in extracurricular activities, based on data presented to Big Sky teachers. 

Cole Holgate, 18, a senior student who shares similar ideas as Fortner, agrees that kids are spending too much time on their phones. 

“I think it’s destroying some people’s lives. The idea of being connected with everyone at all times seems okay at best on paper,” Holgate said. “I limit myself on my apps so I don’t stay on my phone for too long.”

Regardless of the strong negative impacts, students at Big Sky like Holgate, Echohawk and Mateer actually seek ways to cope with their social media, and there is a national push to promote healthier digital habits. 

 Last May, UC Davis Health posted an article on social media’s impact on mental health and includes tips to use it safely. It states that social media use may increase feelings of anxiety and depression, “specifically in teens and young adults.” It also states that social media use increases feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out). 

The article also mentions ways to safely use social media, including setting time limits on apps.  The article even discusses having designated hours for social media usage, the impacts of looking through your followers list, and unfollowing accounts that make you feel bad as yourself.

Mateer, Echohawk, and Holgate said they have implemented strategies like setting time limits, unfollowing accounts that contribute to negative feelings, and engaging in digital detoxes to reduce stress. 

In addition to these individual efforts, some students have turned to apps that monitor screen time, helping them to stay accountable for their usage. Others have opted to disable notifications to minimize distractions and resist the urge to constantly check their phones. 

These students are also finding support in their peers, sharing experiences and coping mechanisms that help to  create a sense of community around the challenges they face. 

Echohawk summed up the sentiment shared by many of his peers: “At the end of the day, social media isn’t going anywhere, but how we choose to engage with it is up to us. We have to find a balance because if we don’t, it’s way too easy to let it take over our lives.”