By Maddi Eck, photo editor

Many – nearly all – teenagers have some type of social media account. Whether it is Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, etc., teens have a way to stay connected to their friends and acquaintances all day.

To many, social media is harmless and has become a modern pass-time. Some teens use these apps as a way to become famous. For example, people post videos of themselves showing off their talents in hopes that someone important might see it. Some use it to simply keep in touch with friends. In reality, social media is not used only in harmless ways. Some people use social media to put others down, degrade their self-esteem, and embarrass them. For example, if you make someone upset, they might try to get revenge by posting an inappropriate picture of you and your boyfriend/girlfriend in hopes that your boss, coach, or principal will see it. Another example, people are often bullied by others saying hateful things on social media, ruining their self-esteem.

After only a few people re-post these pictures, videos, or posts, the whole world has already seen this awful post. This is a very dangerous thing. Just as someone might sign a record deal because the “right person” saw their video, someone might lose their job simply because the “wrong person” saw a picture on Instagram. Many people don’t see how posting a simple photo could be an issue. This “simple photo” could nearly ruin someone’s life.