The Quad Talks Ep 1: Is Social Media Toxic?

The hosts of the podcast "Quad Talk" discuss whether social media is toxic or not. Some believe that social media can be toxic due to comparison, FOMO, cyberbullying, and negative body image. Others argue that social media has benefits such as finding news, job opportunities, and connecting with people. They also discuss the influence of social media on young kids and the importance of controlling what content one is exposed to. They acknowledge that social media addiction can be a problem and can negatively impact mental health. Hi, this is the Quad Talk hosted by Paige Iyuni, Tom McLaughlin, Mia Galeana, and Aubrey Thomas. This is episode one of Is Social Media Toxic? A couple things. So, at first, personally, I believe that social media is toxic. I don't know what everyone else's. My stance is social media is not toxic. I agree with Paige. Social media is pretty toxic. I think that social media can be toxic, but it has a lot of benefits. So you're kind of in the middle? Yeah. So, on my stance, I agree with you, Aubrey. I do think that social media does have its benefits, but I think for the most part, I don't know, I just think that there have been many times where I thought that I wish that I didn't have social media. I think a big thing on my side is that comparison. I know I struggle with that, and I know a lot of people that struggle with it. People on social media can really make their lives look like it's something so amazing when they're shown the good parts of their lives. It can make a lot of other people doubt themselves in their own life when they're on social media and looking at what other people are doing. Also, FOMO is a big thing with social media. I know I've felt that. I'm sure you all have, too. So, yeah, but that's kind of my part. All right, so since I'm the only one kind of fully on the yes side, that social media is good. Some of my reasons behind that are, I don't know about you guys, but I get a lot of my news from Instagram, TikTok, even Snapchat. I don't watch the news in the morning. I just scroll on that throughout the day. Yeah, that's true. I get a lot of stuff from that. Especially on sports news and stuff. I do sports news, and then another big one I came up with was, I really knew no one coming to Miami, and without social media, I would not have known that this kid was 30 minutes away from my roommate. Oh, yeah. That's a really good point. Yeah, that is a good point. Yeah, it definitely helped me find my roommate as well, so that's a really good point. Yeah, I mean, with my roommate, I went random, but that's how I found my roommates was on social media. Then we started talking. If there wasn't social media, I guess we'd just email. I don't know, but then you wouldn't know what anyone looks like or anything, so it definitely was helpful. Yeah. And then another one I have would be sharing memories or even moments. If you post what you're doing and stuff, and one of your friends isn't there, I guess it kind of fits into FOMO, but for me, right now, I like to see what all my friends back home are doing. Yeah, yeah. I'm not missing out, but it's nice to see that. And then, obviously, I think it opens up a lot of opportunity to us as we can talk to people, like random people through social media. Yeah. Even LinkedIn would be a form of social media to me. That's true. Yeah. People find job opportunities. Yeah, that's true. I'm arguing with the no. I think I have definitely been cyberbullied before, and that feeling's not a great one, especially when there's so many people that you're comparing yourself to. It has detrimentally destroyed my mental health at points. And social media, I believe, gives platforms to people that don't deserve it. Personally, I don't like Andrew Tate, and I know that there was a huge issue with him, but he got such a platform because people would like or people would talk about him and give him that platform. Stuff like that is why people shouldn't use it or we don't need it in the capacity that we have it. Yeah. I agree. I agree. I agree. I think social media, a lot of people, we shouldn't have such a big platform, have big platforms. Yeah. And I think sometimes, especially, I don't know, with younger kids who, I feel like today's generation, social media, I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I didn't get Snapchat or Instagram until eighth grade. Yeah, same. And a lot of kids nowadays, I know the kids back home that I babysit, they have Snapchat and Instagram and they're literally in sixth grade. Some of them know how to work it better than I do. Right. They're like, oh, I know how to fix that. I'm just like, wow, okay. So I think a lot of times, too, I think, not just TikTok, sorry, but social media in general, I think, can give young kids the wrong viewpoints at things. Like when it comes to someone, a celebrity or someone, an influencer who maybe isn't the best influencer for people but they have a big platform so younger kids aren't smart enough to know, oh, they're not, that's not someone I want to be influenced by. But they see that they have so many followers and get so many likes and all this stuff. And also, I think, as well with the whole body image issue and the comparison to others, younger kids seeing how other people look. And even, I mean, that goes for our age. Yeah. I mean, I know I get on Instagram and I will see these models and all that stuff and I'll be like, wow, why don't I look like that? Exactly. I think a lot of what people don't understand, too, is there's so much editing that goes into that. Yeah. All that sort. But still, it's so hard to look at girls like that. No, it is. And be like, and I don't know, Connor, your point, if you can compare yourself to others in that way. Yeah, I don't think boys are as... No, I don't think so either. Yeah. But especially when you get Instagram and you're like, it sounds good, you don't know that all these celebrities are editing their photos and stuff. It's like, oh, wow. Right. They look like that. Yeah. Or even friends or something like, you know, still edit their photos. So it definitely will, I don't know, mess with, especially little girls and what they think they're supposed to look like when really no one actually looks like that. Right. But then I can also see, obviously, the benefits Connor was talking about with job opportunities. Because I do know like a lot of people who got jobs based off of like, oh, their social media or like being on LinkedIn or Facebook or something like that. Right. And also for employers also, I feel like it's a big, social media is a big thing that they use because they can look you up. Yeah. Like we were talking about Business 102, like our professor said, she has all these different employers like look you up before you walk into an interview. Yeah. And see if you have anything. Which it could be good and bad. Yeah. Because if you have bad stuff. Then you won't get the job. Right. But it's good for employers so that they can like see that stuff. But yeah. And I also, one more thing about the whole younger kids having social media, I don't know about you guys, but I get like on my 40 page, it'll be like a little girl. You could tell she's like 10 maybe. Yeah. And she's like doing a full face of makeup. Yes. Yes. I saw that like yesterday. I was looking, I was like, how old is this girl? Yeah. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like I didn't even know. Like I put mascara on for the first time in literally like probably seventh grade. Yeah, same. I know. And like, again, like I get it. Like our generations are changing, like whatnot. But like I also feel like that's almost in a way like social media is like influencing. Like higher beauty standards. Yes. Yes. And that like, and I'm sorry, but as a 10 year old, I mean, I'm not one to judge. And like, if your parents are going to let you do that, then that's fine. But like, as a 10 year old, I don't really think you need, you don't need makeup. No. You don't want to just be wearing a ton of makeup. You know? Exactly. I see it for those dance competitions. Yes. And like, that's fine. See, but like. Dance competitions. Yeah. I don't even look like that. And I'm 18. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. And yeah. And then like another big like, yes, like this isn't coming at you guys at all. But like, like everything that like people see on social media, like, like they have to choose to see. So like if people like, like don't want to like have to worry about like body image issues, just like don't follow like, like. That's really true. No, that is true. I get that. Like, I don't know. Like, don't follow all the models. Yeah. Like, just like. Yeah. But then like, I know like on TikTok, like you don't even like have to, before you page like, you don't even like have to like follow me because it just like, like goes off. Like all the stuff you like. So I feel like people have like a lot of control. And like, like people have control to their whole like social media from what you see to what you post. So like, I feel like if it's affecting you, like in a negative way, like it's just your fault. Because like I know. Yeah. Like I have like, but like I barely follow like maybe like, I probably follow like 400 people. Like on Instagram. Because like, I just don't have to see. Like once I expand my account. Yeah. I know. And I agree. I definitely do think you have control when it comes to social media. But I also think the one control part that you don't have is like your brain. Because like, that sounds weird. But like you don't, there's been so many times where I'd be like scrolling on social media and I wouldn't even realize that it's the social media causing me to feel that way. You know, I would just think it was me feeling that way. Like I don't, I don't think people always necessarily put the two and two together. No. Especially when you're young. You don't know. Right. And especially when we're all like addicted to these apps and social media in general. You know, I mean, I can say I'm addicted to TikTok. I know that. I've been on TikTok for hours whenever I have a chance to, which is horrible. I need to stop. And then like Snapchat, I don't even text people that often anymore. I just use Snapchat. Have you ever tried to stop? Yes. Like genuinely? I honestly, I hate responding to people. I think it's annoying. But like the people that, like my friends that I talk to the most and stuff, like I talk to them on there. Yeah. I don't really text, you know. But I don't know. I totally agree with you though, Connor. I definitely think you, everyone has the opportunity to control what they like see on social media and like what they post on it and stuff. But I do think at times too, it's like you almost don't even realize that it's happening. Yeah. Going back to like what you said, so many people use the social media platforms that if you don't have it, like you're at a loss. There were times where like my friends would try to invite me places, but they were like, oh, Mita doesn't have Snapchat. I was 13, of course. But like they were like, oh, Mita doesn't have Snapchat. She doesn't deserve to come. I was like, okay. That's harsh. Well, no, that's, it's very harsh. But like that's the way people do things. Yeah. They don't want my number anymore. They just want my Snap. Yeah. I mean, I definitely think I use text more than Snap just because I would rather text someone than Snapchat them, but that's just me. Yeah. And then I did have TikTok, but I was on it so much, I just deleted it. Yeah. Because I feel like I'm already on Snapchat and Instagram so much. It was just another thing. More power to you. Yeah. Like my sister was deleting it, so I was like, oh, I'll do it too. She got it back, but I just never did. Yeah. Should we talk about these questions, like the worst social media? Yeah. Yeah. Because like off that, I'm going to say TikTok. The worst social media? I don't think it's even close. Yeah. The worst social media platforms is one of the questions we had. I agree. TikTok. Yeah. I think the worst ones are just like the ones that you're not communicating with friends or like staying updated on their life. Yeah. Because there's no like benefit to TikTok. I don't think. Right. Right. If you're not communicating with anyone, you're not saying like, oh, my friend went on vacation, like I'll text her about it or something. Yeah. Yeah. Perfectly. Yeah. I mean, random people dance. Right. It's such a waste of time. They do. Yeah. On Instagram and stuff, like, I think it's cool to like see like pictures that your friends take. Yeah. Yeah. Like places they went to because they took pictures like from a trip. But like. Yeah. And I like to see what my friends are doing in college and stuff like that. Yeah. No. No. Don't need to see that. And like things like Twitter too. Like you get news like you were saying. Yeah. And like even on Instagram and stuff. I think that news is a big part of what is good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.