Today ' s words
The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers
Manuel Felipe Pava Ramos. 9A
The introduction of technology has become an important thing in our lives, especially for teenagers with social media, that allows us to communicate, show ourselves in photos or videos, and entertain us. Besides, social media can affect us in a wrong way, like mentally, emotionally, and kill our brain cells. That’ s why we need to understand the positive and negative effects of improving teenagers’ habits online.
Social media has some good things too. It helps us to stay in contact with friends or family, even if they live far away. Also, we can learn new things by watching videos or reading posts. Some people use social media to talk about important topics like mental health or climate change. Teenagers can also express their creativity by making videos, sharing drawings, or writing messages that other people like or support.
But not everything is good. Social media can also make teenagers feel bad about themselves. Sometimes we compare our lives or look with others, and that can
cause sadness, stress, or insecurity. Cyberbullying is another problem. People can send bad messages or make fun of others without showing their face. Also, using social media too much can make us waste time, sleep less, or stop doing our homework and activities in real life.
In conclusion, social media can be a great tool, but only if we use it in a smart way. Teenagers need to find a balance and not let it control their life. It is important to enjoy the good parts of social media but also be careful with the bad effects. If we use it with responsibility, it can help us grow, connect, and learn.
¿ Is Prohibition the Real Solution?
Henry Romero Archila. 9B
Something we have heard lately is the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Throughout its history in our country, prohibition has caused more problems than it has solved, showing us that it is not the perfect end to this problem. People continue to use it at high levels, and all markets that sell it operate illegally. Instead of helping, prohibition only encourages criminal activity and drug trafficking, which have become deeply ingrained in our society.
An example that shows us prohibition isn’ t the solution is the U. S. prohibition in the 1920s. Alcohol was banned for everyone, but it didn’ t stop people from trying to consume it; it was a fuel for organized crime to join the contraband and flood the United States in a corrupt system that allowed illegal activities.
Now, in 2025, Colombia also is facing a similar situation. As the law tries to keep
people away from this drug by enforcing laws against it, the market has just become more dangerous for people who consume it. This results in a public health situation because everyone who sells wants to expand their possible clients as far as they can, resulting in minors using drugs because there are no real regulations keeping everyone safe.
However, legalization is different from the point of view. A regulated market on which the state controls its production just helps everyone in Colombia. Farmers who have crops can work alongside the government, destroying marijuana trafficking in our country because there will not be any need to buy in an unregulated market, reducing violence. The gains from this commerce will be used as tax revenue for the state, which can be reinvested into health policies, education, and prevention programs. In practice,
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Canada and Uruguay have shown that legalizing doesn’ t increase consumption but does help the government to regulate more in drugs and health related topics.
Even though prohibition feels like the right choice to make, it has demonstrated that it promotes violence and illegal activities that affect society. We need to be on the right side of the story; if marijuana is legalized, benefits aren’ t directed to criminals. Instead, they are directed at the good people who can see a change and an improvement in security and education.