Enough of the negativity: This 16-year-old loves texting and social networks

WE’VE made the world awfully small. Masses upon masses of information is available to each and every one of us (though mostly, we overlook this fact and watch videos of cats doing the most glorious things imaginable).

Yep, you guessed it. The Internet.

The Internet has got a pretty bad reputation. Which is pretty understandable. For some reason, people have used this wonderful medium as a means to hurt others or just be totally disgusting, instead of educating themselves about the great expanse of culture around them.

Of course that’s not what I’m here to talk about (though I do think it’s worth discussing), I’m here to talk about social networking sites (oh joy)!

Even though millions upon millions of people use social networking sites every day, there are others who despise these sites with enough fiery passion to single-handedly cause global warming. Honestly? Sometimes I hate them too.

They’re overwhelming. I get headaches from having twelve different conversations simultaneously. Don’t get me wrong, being able to talk to my friends who live a million miles away is something I am incredibly grateful for. I adore coming home from school after a rough day and having a little message wishing me well.

There’s just such a huge pressure with it all. You’ve got to make sure you’re not leaving anyone out, not to mention the constant sense of something like white noise in the background of your mind, or even, worst of all, the loneliness.

The illusion that every single one of your friends are having fun without you, while you sit in your kitchen, slouching around in pyjamas and having one too many biscuits. Social networking, for me at least, can sometimes leave a feeling of isolation and redundancy.

I hate all of these things. I hate the stress and the anxiety it all brings. But you know what? Sometimes I really love social networking, too.

After having a really awful weekend recently, someone I enjoy being friends with did the simple thing of liking one of my pictures on Facebook, and it actually cheered me up a lot.

Why? Who knows?

It was like they had seen I was upset and made me a warm cup of tea, even though in reality they were on the other side of the country.

I think it’s moments like that which reflect the whole point of these sites – not cyberbullying or drug trafficking (shockingly), but to make people feel less alone even when they’re in an empty house.

The opportunity to maintain a friendship with those you can’t see every day, to learn about people you may have never even known existed and maybe even help them somehow, and to broaden your horizons by opening doors that will lead you to the most incredible places.

The entirety of the planet earth is, at this very moment, at your finger tips.

Pretty strange, isn’t it? But pretty wonderful, too.

• Ellie Menton is aged 16 and a pupil at Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Blarney, Co Cork.