By MAI YIA LEE

The Mirror reporter

With the advancement of technology, social networking has grown to be a part of our everyday lives. Social media are a form of electronic communications that are used to share information, interact with others, or develop social and professional contacts. Some examples of popular social networks are Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter.

Sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are the most popular among teens according to HHS.gov. “I use Snapchat the most,” Kailey Strunk, a Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) student said.

“Facebook is where I’m usually most active,” Skylar Suchon, another SPASH student said.

According to Lifewire, social networking can make people feel better about themselves and more connected to society. It’s easy to use and could be an opportunity for success, but it can also be a source of negativity.

Social networks cause distractions and make people procrastinate, which can interfere with everyday life. Using social media excessively could also lead to bad habits that eventually lead to addiction.

“I think most teens are addicted to social media, including myself,” Strunk said.

Checking your social media a couple times a day is normal but it crosses the line to addiction when it’s a constant behavior.

Researchers at Chicago University concluded that social media addiction can be stronger than addiction to cigarettes or booze (Lifewire). Some problems that may arise from addiction to social media are sleep depravity, anxiety, depression, losses in academic studies or work, and anger management issues according to PCWorld.

Social media has grown drastically in such a short amount of time that, according to Statista, over 80 percent of the U.S. population has a social media profile. According to SocialMediaToday, an average person spends five years and four months on social media in their lifetime. It ranks in second, just behind watching TV. In five years and four months, someone could’ve watched the Simpsons series 215 times, flown to the moon and back 32 times, or climbed Mt. Everest 32 times.