Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page, written for young people by young people. If you would like to write an article for Voices, please email alex.cutler@dorsetecho.co.uk for more information.

FILTERS, group chats, likes, posts, messaging, tweets, streaks. The world of social media is turbulent, confusing, rewarding and inspiring. The real question- has it benefitted or worsened our lives?

There is a total magic about being able to talk to someone at 3am when secrets are spilled and the entire world is dormant.

However, it is also horrible to have the school bully able to cause problems any time they want.

When holidaying, we feel the pressure to take a perfect poolside photo, toying with filters when we should be forgetting that ‘real life’ exists.

However, the connectivity of our world, today means we can talk to friends who have moved away, keep in touch with travelling family members and meet people who would otherwise never cross our paths.

Mental health sufferers have mixed views on social media.

On one hand, some feel submerged in a fake world where inadequacy is there only companion.

Other’s feel social media supports them, as they are able to reach out to fellow sufferers and get help.

Social media will always have both good and bad aspects.

The ability we possess today to speak with anybody and learn anything we want is the sort or freedom older generations could only have dreamed of.

But, it comes with a price. Mental health is getting worse and people’s basic social skills are dripping down the drain.

Isn’t it the saddest thing when you walk past a group who, instead or talking to each other, are more interested in a hunk of metal than their friends?

Maybe the best thing for us all to do is to disconnect from time to time.

I promise the real world still exists.

By Becca Sebire