According to The Huffington Post statistics, more than 90 percent of teens have a social-media account and, with this statistic constantly on the rise, social media looks like it will be with us for quite a while. Social-media sites have captured the attention of teens around the world, and critics are in constant debate about whether or not social media negatively affects teens. This seemingly never- ending debate has teens caught in the crossfire with their IPhones in hand. Some parents hate it, some have it, and others just don’t care but, whatever the case, the latest trend has shown us that it will be with us for the foreseeable future.

What once started off as something as simple as a MySpace account, where people posted photos and created backgrounds with their favorite songs playing in them, has now blossomed into a multi-billion dollar idea that involves many social-media groups such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Vine. These social-media outlets have allowed people to connect with friends and enjoy their time on the Internet. Facebook allows contact with friends and family all over the world and, although most see a Twitter account as a boring second-by-second life recap, it is so much more. From fashion news to political stories, most teens are getting their news from it. Newer applications such as Vine and Instagram actually do more than allow people to write their feelings. Instagram users can post photos of themselves and their experiences, along with viewing others’ photos for entertainment.

But the newest and “hottest” app out is Vine. This application has almost revolutionized social media, as it allows users to make videos on a wide array of topics, but they must fit into the six-second time limit. This has spawned a revolution of new “comedians,” as people do just about everything to get a “revine” and a couple of laughs. From Max Jr, and his infamous Slap Cams to other epic skits done by thousands across the world, Vine has allowed people to think extremely outside the box bringing creative material and great entertainment.

Social Media has also evolved, as it is not only accessible via computer, but also as every known outlet has an app, which is available for download. This allows users constant access even on the go, which means more revenue for the founders and more people on the sites and applications throughout the day.

All of these apps are great for students to think creatively, but they do in reality take up alot of time. The constant need to check and recheck all of the different accounts that most teens have does take its toll. Speaking from experience, I always feel the urge, while doing homework, to look on Twitter just in case something new or interesting has posted, and this constant nagging of the mind usually wins and I end up being distracted for about 10-15 minutes. This isn’t even the worst of it, as social media has made a pathway for sexual predators and overall con artists to thrive on them. People are “falling in love” with others that they meet online and, as the extremely popular show Catfish has proven time and time again, Amanda the model from Venice Beach is in fact Jerome from Boston. This uncertainty with identity thieves has gotten extremely serious, as some teens are being deceived by predators who are online for extremely sick and vile reasons. These are the dangers that come with having a social-media account but, in reality, the positives of connecting people, helping them stay current and allowing them to be creative have a far greater positive impact than any of the negatives do.