This trend is a product of the recent growth in preteen social media presence, driven by peer pressure and a lack of parental control. Children who frequently use technology and social media prevent themselves from creating important real-life connections and developing social-emotional skills crucial for adulthood. At the same time, they risk addiction, mental health issues and exposure to harmful content.

The ages 9 through 12 bridge the early-childhood and teenage years, and comprise a vital developmental period during which the brain is sensitive to outside influences. During this period, building connections and friendships with peers is essential. According to Mount Saint Mary College psychology professor Paul Schwartz, childhood friendships help develop social skills, including respecting others’ views and understanding conversational etiquette. Friendships also help children build a support system, decreasing their stress and increasing self-esteem.

Children who frequently use social media sites, however, are less likely to build friendships and more likely to have online-only peers, as a study led by research scientist Linda Charmaraman found in 2022. These digital relationships tend to be more superficial and less personal than in-person friendships, and therefore don’t serve as a proper support network. At the same time, preteens are more likely to engage in cyberbullying, and victims are at risk of psychological complications such as anxiety and isolation.

Access to social media has also created an environment that often promotes unrealistic standards. If children believe that their physiques fall short of the artificial image they compare themselves to, for example, they are likely to develop body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, according to a 2022 study headed by research scientist David Bickham. In a 2023 study from the American Psychological Association, adolescents who reduced their social media usage by 50% for a few weeks felt significantly better about their body and appearance.

Furthermore, younger children with unrestricted internet access may stumble upon sexual or violent content, leading them to become desensitized at an early age or to seek out such content of their own accord, as the American Academy of Pediatrics found. The Academy also found that adolescents lack the ability to regulate themselves online compared to adult users.

Parents of preteens can protect their children from the adverse effects of technology usage. To reduce the impact of addictive algorithms, parents should limit their children’s time on devices and prevent them from using certain social media sites, such as Instagram and Snapchat, until they are older. Social media companies must also realize the harm their products have inflicted and revise their policies to keep younger users from accessing their apps, with stricter age verification, better screening of mature content and increased parental-control options. Ultimately, parents must work with their children to minimize the pitfalls of technology so they learn how to use it in a healthy manner.

Many parents are aware of the risks of the internet: A December 2022 study from the Pew Research Center found that a majority of parents with children aged 13 to 18 are at least somewhat worried about their children’s online activity, with 71% concerned about explicit content, 70% concerned about large amounts of time spent online and 59% concerned about peer pressure. However, the way that parents choose to combat these dangers vary, with some choosing a hands-off approach and others adopting more stringent regulations.

Some parents, concerned that their children are being exposed to inappropriate content, track online history and block specific social media and entertainment platforms, among other websites. Although blocking apps may give parents the illusion that they are protecting their children, this form of monitoring does not reduce — and can even exacerbate — the online dangers that children face. For already rebellious teenagers, imposing app or website bans to curb online activity may have the opposite effect, since children become more likely to attempt to hide their usage from their parents. This tendency is explained by the forbidden fruit theory, which says that there is a human tendency to want something more if it is off-limits or challenging to obtain. Teens’ hiding their online activity lead to an unhealthy relationship with technology and sever trust, since teenagers can feel as though their parents have a lack of appreciation for their privacy.

Online tracking also prevents teenagers from developing responsibility. If teenagers are only motivated by parental rules or surveillance, they are unprepared for a future where their guardians are less involved.

This doesn’t mean that parents should leave their children entirely to their own devices. When teenagers, who are still developing judgment skills, are left to explore the internet freely without parental regulations, they can form unhealthy habits that lead to lifelong consequences. Rather than relying on online tracking or blocking, however, parents can model acceptable behaviors and help their children become aware of the dangers that exist online through open discussion.

They can also set rules and consequences relating to online behavior and limit screen time. These alternatives could help teenagers feel as though their opinions are heard and encourage them to learn more about online safety. Teenagers also resist restrictions less when they are part of the conversation and have the opportunity to understand their parents’ point of view.

Additionally, limiting screen time through parental controls or setting no-technology zones can counter technology overuse, bringing teenagers out of the online world into reality. With clear communication from both sides, these practices set teenagers up for a healthy childhood without infringing on their rights.

As schools increasingly incorporate technology as a learning tool, they should also support parents in educating students on online safety, especially for younger students who are being introduced to online resources for the first time. Technology in itself is not inherently good or bad. Thus, as children mature and change, parents should be observant and respond accordingly.

There are bound to be obstacles in parenting with technology. However, by establishing connection and understanding, parents can help their children develop healthy relationships with technology and with their community.

The phrase first originated from Megan Thee Stallion’s 2019 hit song “Hot Girl Summer.” Although four years have passed since its release, the term still reemerges every summer. Stallion originally intended for the song to preach self-confidence and authenticity, but as the phrase gained popularity, it began to shift into a more toxic ideal promoting hook-up culture and perpetuating unrealistic expectations of what a “hot girl” is.

The most notable connotation of “hot girl summer” is that of female promiscuity, essentially serving as an umbrella term for an abundance of summer flings. The term encourages women to go out with a plethora of guys, showing little to no remorse for anybody’s feelings but their own. This interpretation echoes the original idea of prioritizing oneself, but is a ways off from its initial intent.

Furthermore, as with most popular trends in a society fueled by consumerism, “hot girl summer” has seeped into marketing ploys. Companies integrate the term into their advertisements for bikinis, miniskirts and crop tops, pressuring consumers into buying new swimsuits and going-out tops to prepare for the upcoming summer. Naturally, the fitness industry has also caught hold of this trend and transformed it into the newest iteration of the age-old unrealistic model standards. Content creators recommend special diets and workouts that promise a slim, toned body in time for “hot girl summer.” The term has suffered a significant shift over time — it is no longer associated with being “unapologetically yourself,” as Stallion suggested. Instead, the term only includes those whose appearance match the “hot girl” figure and who could afford to achieve the “hot girl” lifestyle.

For me, the idea of having a “hot girl summer” carried a lot of pressure. I felt that I didn’t fit the cookie-cutter image of a “hot girl” I saw being promoted on social media, and the popular “hot girl summer” checklists involved activities that I had no interest in partaking in. The pressure made the upcoming summer seem less fun and more like a competition that I needed to prepare for.

Although I have yet to experience a full-fledged “hot girl summer,” I’ve engaged in somewhat of a pre-season, during which I’ve learned invaluable lessons. I noticed how while my heightened sense of freedom did allow me to meet new people and engage in different experiences, a sense of inner loneliness remained. I felt unfulfilled, even with a phone filled with dozens of unread texts from admirers that I was only mildly interested in. Especially after being in a committed relationship, the absence of romantic intimacy and trust weighed on me. I started noticing the uneasiness I’d feel every time I was asked out and the overwhelming sense of stress brewing in my stomach before every date.

I have ultimately realized that no amount of male attention can supersede the lack of love in my life. Yet, instead of seeking validation, I now know that I need to find that love within myself in order to fully heal. With this revelation, the phrase “hot girl summer” has reverted back to its roots as an ideal promoting self-love.

So, what once began as a mentality embracing the joys of independence became distorted into one promoting the hypersexualization of women and toxic hook-up culture. It was then used as bait for cheap marketing ploys. That, however, doesn’t discount its potential to spread an empowering message. In order to see widespread change, companies and content creators need to begin promoting all body types when discussing “hot girl summer” and shifting their language to be more inclusive to those with different gender identities. This summer, I hope to reclaim the term and tweak it in a way that reflects my own definition of a “hot girl.” I am my hottest self when I am my happiest self, and I will achieve this goal by engaging in activities that bring me closer to it, rather than ones that I feel like I need to do according to social media.

When a person isn’t able to experience something others are, social media can feed into their FOMO and be a constant source of unrealistic comparison. Feelings that are characteristic of FOMO, such as inferiority and exclusion, can worsen because the majority of social media posts only highlight the best parts of a person’s life. These “perfect” portrayals can cause envy or make others feel as if they don’t measure up. The freedom summer break grants further amplifies these aspects: It is likely that students have more time to both go on and post about vacations as well as spend time online scrolling through others’ curations. This dynamic only contributes to a heightened sense of FOMO.

These complex feelings can affect students in a variety of ways. Having one’s appearance or popularity be compared to others’ can harm self-esteem and mental health. Poor mental health often hinders sleep quality, creating a vicious cycle: Focusing on self-care during break requires quality sleep, but FOMO’s negative impact on students’ mental health may prevent them from being able to get this needed rest.

FOMO can also magnify previous depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness, which are already more common in people who frequently use social media. According to a 2022 study conducted by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the risk of depression in adolescents increased 13% for each additional hour spent on social media. The constantly changing atmosphere on social media platforms can pressure many to keep up with the most recent trends and go to the events that they see posts about, which only keeps people on social media for longer, and thus increases anxiety levels.

Furthermore, social media and FOMO can impair students’ ability to form genuine connections with others. Social media always presents others’ relationships in the best light, creating unrealistic expectations of what a friend should be and act like. The desire for these types of connections can strain preexisting relationships as one begins to believe that the only viable bonds are akin to the ones found online. Fear of missing out on a better social life, one without the natural ups and downs any relationship is bound to bring, can prompt some to become overly selective of their friends and dismiss impactful people from their lives. These detrimental effects of FOMO create not only unstable social situations, but feelings of unhappiness stemming from the inability to find a desirable friend.

Despite these drawbacks, having ways to connect with others outside of school is still important, especially during summer break. When people aren’t able to see each other on a day-to-day basis, social media can provide a space to keep in touch. Overuse of social media, however, warps these positive aspects into ones that can harm students. Thus, students must moderate their social media consumption and shift their mindsets to lead healthier lifestyles. Viewing others’ posts as sources of inspiration rather than upward comparison can further diminish the negative effects of social media on mental health.

Too much social media use, especially during the summer, can cause a vicious, unbreakable cycle of FOMO and anxiety, straining mental health during a time of relaxation. Instead of becoming consumed by social media and FOMO, teens should steer clear of elements that exacerbate negative feelings. Taking advantage of the free time summer provides can help foster in-person relationships and allow students to discover interests and passions that don’t create harmful environments.

As gym-going becomes increasingly popular, it sets certain aesthetic standards. Those who don’t meet these expectations are classified as skinny and weak, or lazy and overweight. Furthermore, heading to the gym, especially with friends, can lead to unhealthy competition, harassment and bullying. These types of environments and experiences may lead to issues including insecurity, depression, steroid use, and, in extreme cases, various eating disorders, such as “reverse anorexia” — a belief that one’s body is too small or insufficiently muscular. Junior Samantha Snyder notes that this dysmorphia is often exacerbated by social media. “For other people, I’ve definitely seen (dysmorphia) as a huge source of insecurity and self-comparison, which is especially fueled by the influencers they see, who are super muscular and not actually natural,” she said.

Nutrition is often seen as the key to muscle growth and fitness. An intense focus on it, however, contributes to an unhealthy gym culture. As part of their personal fitness regimes, many students are highly cognizant of what they eat, contributing to obsessive behaviors around nutrition and more time and money spent on purchasing specific foods. Snyder, who started a personal fitness regimen several months ago, finds that unrealistic diets on social media only compound this issue. “It’s super hard to find that fine line between what you should be consuming for your own well-being and what others are recommending,” she said. “You have influencers telling you to go on carnivorous diets, you have trainers on YouTube telling you to go vegan to cut down your waist. It’s by far the most toxic aspect of gym culture.”

Toxic gym culture often prompts the overconsumption of protein to build muscle, which is shown to have damaging effects on the gastrointestinal system. This practice has been continually reinforced by the muscle-building myth that one should consume 2 grams of protein daily for each kilogram of one’s body weight. Medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic, however, suggest that individuals consume no more than 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Junior Aiden Chowdhury has seen the impacts these false recommendations can have on students. “Some people get super fixated on what they eat,” he said. “There’s always people perpetuating false myths. I’ve even heard stories about people trying to gain weight who literally fed themselves to the point of crying.”

Student gym culture also contributes to the use of steroids and supplements. Although steroids aren’t as commonly used among gym-going youth today, natural supplements of dubious safety — such as creatine, a biochemical compound that boosts muscle production, and ashwagandha, a root known to reduce stress — have gained popularity. Fitness content creators’ unrealistic appearances contribute to this trend. “(Social media) definitely adds to insecurity and self-comparison, especially since a lot of the big fitness influencers do not have ‘natural’ physiques because they are using chemicals,” Snyder said.

This dynamic provides false comfort regarding steroid or supplement use for teens, even if their parents or doctors dispel these myths. “I have seen certain people where it is safe to assume they are using steroids,” Snyder said. “It doesn’t affect me, but it does build a weird stigma around physique, because people will become super insecure comparing themselves to bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who are clearly athletically enhanced. It’s weird to know that people are willing to go that far and do that to their bodies, especially if they don’t know the effects or are ignoring them.”

Snyder added that the teenage tendency to seek false consensus contributes to questionable nutrition and supplement choices. “Teens will often look for information that agrees with them rather than information that is actually valid,” she said. “This includes information about side effects, which can be incredibly serious in some cases.”

The social aspect of frequenting the gym can, counterintuitively, harm students, who may begin to compare themselves to others when working out. Interactions with others at the gym may cause an individual to perceive themself as less fit or muscular compared to others, leading to self-esteem issues. This mindset can cause eating disorders and severe body dysmorphia.

Although various triggers exist within the local teen gym culture, they do not have to define a student’s gym-going experience. According to Snyder, focusing solely on one’s own health needs can help create a Palo Alto gym culture that gym-goers can thrive in. “As long as you can ignore all the toxic aspects and not take them into account, (going to the gym) is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself,” she said.

Today, young teenagers are constantly comparing their bodies to celebrities’, which negatively impacts their body image. In response to an anonymous poll conducted by The Oracle, a student explained how social media affects their self-perception. “With the number of societal beauty standards that I see on a daily basis through social media, I subconsciously compare myself constantly,” they said. Junior Savannah Erickson described how the portrayal of women in the media has a detrimental impact on how women see themselves. “Everyone wants to be liked,” she said. “If you think that men want a certain body type, it’s very easy to fall into that trap. Unrealistic standards have very negatively affected me and made me view myself as unworthy of
attention.”

Social media isn’t the only factor that influences self-image. As an athlete, sophomore McKayla Mar has noticed the unreasonable expectation to fit into athletic and societal beauty standards. “For both cheer and gymnastics, there’s the expectation to build muscle and look a certain way, like having bigger shoulders or thighs or arms,” Mar said. “I know a lot of my friends don’t like that image or the way they look, and they want to have muscle but don’t want to look big.”

It’s difficult for girls—who may have been told from a young age to place self-worth on appearance—to unlearn that mindset of appealing to those around them. “It’s hard to look at girls with flat stomachs and believe it
to be what men want,” another student poll answer said. “It’s very difficult to unlearn those thoughts and stop thinking of yourself as imperfect if you don’t appeal to the male audience.” The never-ending shift in the standards for feminine body image shows how women’s bodies are treated like a fashion trend, modified to fit others’ expectations, when body image should only be based on personal health and happiness.

Not only that, but these ever-changing societal standards for women’s appearances can be harmful. Body dysmorphia, for example, is a mental disorder that causes people to fixate or be overly critical of perceived flaws in their appearance. Erickson’s dysmorphia impacted her personal life. “Body dysmorphia had affected my relationships with my parents and significant others,” she said. “It’s hard to see myself as who I am, and I usually would buy clothes in bigger sizes because that’s how I perceived myself.”

For teenagers, the influence of social media plays a huge role in creating the pressure to attain the perfect body, and it can amplify dysmorphic feelings. It’s important to keep in mind that images found on social media can be enhanced and edited, and this most likely happens because even influencers feel the same pressure to look perfect.

It’s not always easy to train out of that mindset when one is constantly exposed to unrealistic standards, but it’s not impossible. Taking a break from social media can help users stop comparing themselves to these glittering and glamorous models. Most importantly, being aware of the personal impacts of these standards and shifting focus towards well-being and confidence will help develop contentment with not just appearance, but identity.

A niche community of book lovers has established itself on several social media platforms—one of the largest and most influential is #BookTok, a corner of TikTok that discusses and reviews popular books. BookTok gained popular attention in March 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic exploded and stay-at-home orders were issued across America. Since then, BookTok’s popularity has been growing exponentially, racking up a total of 36 billion views on all videos as of Feb. 3, 2022.

The widespread popularity of BookTok has substantially increased book sales in the young adult genre. For example, Madison Miller’s “The Song of Achilles,” a retelling of Homer’s “The Iliad” was released in late 2011. The book received considerable praise, winning the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2012. In early 2021, however, the novel enjoyed a resurgence, suddenly rising to the top of the “New York Times” bestseller list. Miller and her publisher were ecstatic as they were confused by this surge in popularity—but the mystery was solved when they discovered that the book had gone viral on BookTok.

BookTok’s influence has been felt at Gunn. Librarian Daljeet Gill says that books combined with social media is always a positive power. “TikTok has really been a driving force in terms of students coming in and checking out books,” he said. Since Gill began working at Gunn seven years ago, he has noticed that young adult books have always been popular among students. However, he recognized a clear shift in the diversity of the book community, thanks to social media. [The] ‘young adult’ (YA) genre has tended to be dominated by white women, but now you can see non-binary people, people of color and a more of a diverse crowd of authors and protagonists alike,” Gill said.

E. Lockheart’s “We Were Liars,” released in 2014, is another book that owes its revival to BookTok. The novel follows a girl from an affluent family, exploring the dark secrets and lies that hide behind pretty faces and money. After an initial sales spike upon release, followed by years of modest interest, the book reached the best-seller list last summer, surprising both author and publisher.

With the marketing power of BookTok now well-known, authors and publishers are adapting. Twenty-three year old author Chloe Gong began sharing news of her debut novel,“These Violent Delights,” several months before its release on Nov. 17, 2020. The novel, a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” set in the 1920s in Shanghai, became an instant sensation, hitting the number one spot on the bestseller list by November. The Gunn library has a copy of the book, along with its newly-released sequel, “Our Violent Ends.” As of late February, all books mentioned are available in the Gunn Library.

Simply put, physical literature is not going away anytime soon. While social media and technology may garner the spotlight, books and novels have carved out their own niche in the online world and continue to lend entertainment to current and future generations.

Performative Activism

On June 2, a social media movement took over the feeds of many Instagram users. On that day, known as “Black Out Tuesday,” celebrities, activists and high schoolers alike posted black squares in an effort to raise awareness about the BLM movement while showing solidarity for the Black community. According to CNBC, by 8:45 a.m. on that day there were already 14.6 million Instagram posts tagged #blackouttuesday; as of Sept. 27, there are now a total of 22.2 million posts with that same hashtag. However, also as of Sept. 27, there are only 11.3 million signatures on Breonna Taylor’s Change.org petition calling for the arrest of her killers. If everyone who posted the black square instead redirected their efforts towards real, tangible actions, those in power would be more likely to see the impact of her story and be prompted to act. Social media, especially on a platform meant for creativity, is not an optimal way to communicate opinions to our political leaders. Following mainstream trends and advocating solely for current “hot topics” will not result in meaningful change; it only serves to further personal agendas.

While many students care deeply about the subjects they advocate for, others repost the graphics because “others are doing it,” hoping to be perceived as an empathetic person by their peers. One common issue in social media advocacy is performative activism, also known as “slack-tivism,” where people will advocate for the purpose of improving their social image, rather than furthering the causes they promote. Students who engage in these practices are not as likely to be genuine, and are more likely to become desensitized to disasters, viewing them as personal moral dilemmas rather than widespread tragedy.

Although we cannot expect everybody to be thoroughly involved in every cause, performative activism cannot be effective if people only participate for their own self-gain. Being an “activist” by reposting infographics on social media is simply patting yourself on the back for minimal participation. Simply put, social media gives people an easy way out of true activism. Slacktivists, convinced that they are making substantial change, will likely not contribute in more meaningful ways such as signing petitions, donating money or holding tough conversations. In fact, more people posted #blackouttuesday than people who signed George Floyd or Breonna Taylor’s Change.org petitions. Using a pressing issue in order to further one’s own social standing is unfair to those who are most affected by the issue itself. Social media users should avoid both being insincere when operating online and using tragedies for their own personal benefit.

Infographics

Infographics are one tool used by performative activists. Often displayed in aesthetic colors, infographics are designed to display information in a way that teens will be able to share without disrupting the beauty of their Instagram feed. Rather than being solely informational, the info-graphics, usually displayed as an Instagram slide post with a cover and a breakdown of facts on each slide, are made in order to attract attention or followers. Yet infographics not produced by respected organizations or legitimate news sources often are not fact-checked; creators, with the intention to raise awareness and encourage reposts, are less likely to focus solely on facts and sources when they are crafting covers that people will click on. Additionally, many infographics do not cite their sources; without citations, users cannot fact-check the bias and validity of the information, and such posts cannot be fully trusted, nor held accountable for misinformation.

To challenge the idea that infographics are the authority on all activism-related issues, some users have even created satire accounts. The success of such satire enforces the idea that social media users often blindly support any issue they come across without fact-checking information. Accounts such as @annoyedteenager and @monday preach far-fetched ideas such as “ADAB: All Doctors are Bad” or “Wear a mask or you are racist.” This information is displayed in the same format as “real” infographics, but use unprovable, often silly facts. In a world full of “fake news,” people cannot always make the distinction between what is real and what is satire, leading to the spread of misinformation through infographics.

The information we absorb, no matter the source, can determine people’s political actions. Some infographics prioritize aesthetics over accuracy, especially in failing to support ideas with sources, a practice that can misinform social media users and lead them to take stances on specific issues, or vote for certain candidates without full comprehension of the politics.

Peer Pressure

When certain movements are adopted by the majority of the community, staying silent can appear to be a form of disagreement or opposition to the mainstream cause.

Recently, the phrase “silence is violence” has been chanted at protests and spread across social media. With the notion that inaction equates with oppression, students may feel the need to publicly express their support or condemnation of a subject, but there shouldn’t be a moral obligation to do so. There are many reasons why a person would refrain from taking a public stance on issues, especially on a social media platform. Sometimes, a student may feel unfit to comment on the situation; other times, they may not align with the popular opinion, and would believe it is best to stay silent rather than offend their peers. Whatever the reason, it is not shameful to refrain from posting, as there are many other, often more effective, ways to advocate for a cause.

A Call to Action

Social media can be a double-edged sword; while it serves as a powerful tool to spread meaningful messages and give a stage to underrepresented voices in politics, it’s not always the most effective way to truly advocate. Careless infographics can easily spread misinformation, and there are far more impactful ways to make a difference, such as sending emails to political leaders, signing petitions and encouraging others to do the same. During a new wave of peer pressure and performative activism, students should be responsible in their online actions: they should avoid advocating for issues they do not care about and should do research on current events to avoid blindly believing anything they read on the internet. Only with a generation of socially responsible media users can social media activism begin to create real change.

Some media outlets make their biases relatively clear, especially when it comes to politics. Sources such as Fox News and The New York Times are prime examples of leaning toward a certain political perspective, especially in their stances on certain subjects. When reading articles from professional publications, such as the ones listed above, take note of any opinion trends throughout the articles Remember, writers tend to have their own biases, even when a story is purely factual–after all, a narrative is created in the inclusion and exclusion of certain facts.

Furthermore, always be mindful of who is writing the article. Reading articles written by the same author gives a reader insight into possible bias, and it wouldn’t hurt to research their background as well. Awareness of writer and publication bias is absolutely essential when receiving information, as readers should consider a myriad of other possible viewpoints before taking an educated stance on any issue. 

While there are a number of sources to gather information from, whether they’re in the form of social media or online journals, claims and opinions may not be supported by solid evidence, especially when they don’t appear in a professional publication. Vague terms such as “many people” or “many studies demonstrate” are not trustworthy on their own: follow up on all listed sources and consider any potential drawbacks to those supporting facts and figures. For instance, ask the questions, ‘Who reported that survey, and what were the demographics?’ When mentioned in an article, statistics and reports may seem verified, but it never hurts to do more research: facts can easily be twisted in order to favor a writer’s argument. 

When exploring news outlets, read more than one article from multiple sources in order to receive the most well-rounded, unbiased information possible on a certain topic. Don’t be shy to dive further into these subjects, but remember that articles, facts and statistics can often be misleading. At the end of the day, it’s your duty to form educated personal opinions based on the media you consume. 

However, California’s long battle with COVID-19 is far from over. Students should minimize unnecessary outings such as social gatherings, parties and events to protect themselves and their families; following social distancing guidelines and minimizing contact is the only way we can slow down infection rates. 

Even while infection rates are steadily decreasing, individual and community safety should be prioritized. As of Monday, the average COVID-19 caseload has decreased by 27.6% from the previous week, according to the California Department of Public Health. Despite this feat, which has taken time, effort and commitment, the risks of going out persist; according to the Santa Clara Public Health Center, there have been over 19,000 cumulative cases in our county alone, as of Monday. The threat of contracting the virus from an unsuspecting person or unknowingly infecting others should still encourage students to stay at home. Any unavoidable outings should be executed with extreme caution.

Furthermore, restaurants reopened for limited outdoor seating in early June, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health Center. While the risks of outdoor seating, especially with socially-distanced tables, is significantly less than that of indoor seating, the possibility of contracting the virus is still present and should not be taken lightly. One can never be sure whether the restaurant or those around you is taking proper precautions, so try to minimize dining at restaurants, especially with those you don’t live with.

To justify their group gatherings, teens often turn to the low mortality rate of their age range. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the death rate for youth ages 5-17 is 16 times lower than that of adults aged 18-29. Furthermore, many read that most of the teens infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and can live normally. This low mortality rate leads some to falsely believe that they can disregard protective safety measures without consequences, and has given adolescents a justification to continue partying or participating in large social events despite warnings from the CDC.

Yet at this point, teens may still serve as carriers of the virus, transferring it to more vulnerable populations. Ultimately, teens can still face serious health complications from infection, and even if they are asymptomatic, they can still be a danger to the people around them.

In addition, social media and the actions of public figures have also contributed to less cautious social gatherings. Currently, on applications such as Instagram and Tiktok, large numbers of influential creators are producing content with other creators. At times, these creators are not properly social distanced nor following guidelines. According to the New York Times, 60 to 70 guests flocked to a popular Los Angeles creator house, the Hype House, for a party in late July. Few creators sported masks in the numerous videos and pictures posted during the event. When these public figures disregard safety measures, they serve as poor role models, leading students to believe that ignoring these measures while hanging out with friends is acceptable. Consequently, they are putting themselves, their friends and their families in danger.

While social media figures play a crucial role entertaining teens, it’s important to recognize the downfalls of their visibility, especially in a global pandemic. At the peer-to-peer level, seeing friends’ posts on social media serves as an equally attractive or motivating factor to go out. Thus, mindfulness in this sensitive situation is crucial to keeping everyone safe. 

It’s no doubt that we each want to hang out, party and reopen as soon as possible. However, without following guidelines and keeping yourself safe, cases will inevitably begin to rise. Protect yourself and those around you by abiding by the CDC-suggested safety measures and by simply waiting a little longer before things return to “normal.” Go out only when absolutely essential, but be sure to follow guidelines and stay masked. Try to keep outdoors, where air circulation is better and the risk of spread is smaller, and minimize the frequency of these outings if possible. Instead of heading to that restaurant for dinner, consider getting takeout or making an elaborate home-cooked meal.

The longer we social distance and abide by CDC and county regulations, the faster we can continue to reopen without major setbacks.