The world’s on fire but we are too busy scrolling to notice, says Ariya Sehgal, 13, from St Helen’s School London.
Wildfires, floods, wars and growing inequality are some of the biggest problems facing our world today. Yet many of us spend hours every day scrolling through social media, watching videos and looking at pictures; distracted from what really matters.
Scrolling is easy. It feels like a break from bad news or overwhelming problems.
Who hasn’t found themselves endlessly watching funny videos or memes when they should be doing something else? But this distraction comes at a cost. When we spend too much time online, it becomes harder to focus on the urgent issues that affect all of us.
The world’s problems don’t pause because we’re busy double tapping or refreshing our feeds. The fires burning in distant countries pollute the air we breathe. Wars create millions of refugees who need help. Climate change impacts every corner of the planet.
Social media can be a powerful tool for change but only if we use it wisely. Instead of mindless scrolling, we can learn about the issues, share important stories and support movements demanding action.
The power is in our hands but only if we choose to use it.
If we continue to scroll without paying attention, we risk losing the chance to make a difference. So next time you find yourself scrolling for hours, ask can I use this time to do something meaningful? The world’s problems will not fix themselves while we scroll.
It is time to look up, pay attention and take action because the future depends on what we do right now.
Interested in submitting your own Student Voices article or video? Find out more here.
Cite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
