#3: Do They “Like” You?

Social media is a wondrous thing. We can connect to people from all over the world in the blink of an eye and “like” photos that our friends post. However, being constantly connected to people and looking for validation through “likes” can have negative effects on mental health. Research shows that teenagers, especially young girls, are more likely to develop depression and other mental health issues when they use social media.

When developer Justin Rosenstein pulled an all-nighter to build the “like” function on Facebook, he had no idea how big of an impact his little invention would have. He’s painfully aware of how his simple thumbs-up feature has grown into a culture of outside validation and anxiety. In fact, he has sworn off social media and tries his best to limit his screen time for his own mental health.