Since the creation of social media, we have seen a drastic spike in mental health related diagnoses among people and many would argue that smartphones are taking a negative toll especially when it comes to attention span. Firstly, social media apps operate on algorithms that feed on content you like, comment and interact with and many users are led to believe that the lives being shown on their social media feed are exactly like how they are shown.

This leads to the first problem – the invisible filter of social media. Young men and women are shown perfect bodies, lavish lifestyles and unrealistic dynamics; and most accept that this is not societal norms. However, there are many who think it is, it is also a common occurrence that people start comparing their own lives to those on social media and this inevitably puts them on a path of spiralling unhappiness. Why does my body not look like theirs? Why is my family not like theirs? Why are they so successful? Questions like these must be tackled head on and awareness on social media and high hours of screen time is a good place to tackle the crisis.

It is widely accepted that the rise of social media and smartphones plays a significant role in the decline of reading. Reading content like non-fiction books, articles and academic literature is uncommon for young people. A side effect of this is decreased attention span, studies show that adults who have a low attention span - ultimately lose focus easily, have spikes in anxiety and decrease in productivity.  

In a time where we need the world's brightest minds, it certainly does not set us on the precedent for solving them. Issues like climate change, moving to a greener economy and the rise of AI require ingenuity, creativity and innovation.

If we want to solve this problem, it must be done strategically. Parents outrightly restricting the use of smartphones and all social media would be unwise, as using devices and technology certainly does have its benefits when being used in moderation. Like connecting two callers within seconds, sending messages instantaneously can have its positives however, there is a fine line we all should be cautious of. Too much of anything can be a bad thing.