Most of us probably cannot imagine modern life without social media, which has both the potential to negatively impact our mental and emotional heath if used blindly and the ability to connect us in many unexpected ways.

With social media, friendships go beyond geography. We are able to find friends old and new, thus maintaining old friendships and making new ones. Some would question the quality of these friendships, but perhaps what is important is that a link exists between you and that person. Then, we can possibly build friendship upon this link in the future.

Nevertheless, social media does consume our energy and lower our self-esteem (自尊) at times. A 2013 study by Ethan Kross and Philippe Verduyn, published by the Public Library of Science, found that the more a person uses Facebook, the more miserable he feels about his own life. An internet celebrity (名人) Essena O’Neill recently announced to quit social media, saying it is “not real life”, taking countless photos just to look great in a single post and seeking social approval from “likes” and “views” have left her feeling “empty”.

However, those affected are usually teenagers who possess shaky self-identities. It is only natural for teenagers to seek popularity and social recognition. However, for every teenager who feels jealous, envious or depressed online, there is another who chooses to feel energetic, inspired and accepted by positive social connections.

From what perspective do we wish to approach social media? Social media does not cause unhappiness; it simply provides an alternative platform for teenagers to experiment with as they grow up, something they have always done offline. Teen activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai says, “What is interesting is the power and impact of social media... we must try to use social media in a good way.”

【小题1】Which best describes the impact of social media on friendship?

A．Social media helps build friendships across distances.

B．Social media improves the quality of new friendships.

C．Social media only has a short-term impact on friendships.

D．Social media makes it harder to maintain old friendships.

【小题2】Why does the author mention “a study” and “a celebrity” in paragraph 3?

A．To explain a rule.	B．To make a prediction.
C．To present a fact.	D．To prove an argument.

【小题3】What’s the author’s attitude towards teenagers using social media?

A．Positive.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Indifferent.

【小题4】What may be discussed in the next part of this passage?

A．Demand for advances in social media.

B．The wide applications of social media

C．Advice on using social media positively.

D．The possible harm of social media to users.