Sir: While social visits and get-togethers used to be the main form of interaction, a great deal of human interaction has been reduce to likes, tweets and status updates. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have created a virtual world that has simplified communication between people from opposite corners of the world at the click of a button. Social networking websites also have the potential to bring out the worst in people, which can lead to psychological disorders. Studies have shown that people who use Facebook more often have more narcissistic tendencies and show more signs of anti-social behavior. Daily overuse of social media websites have a negative effect on everyone’s health — especially that of children, preteens and teenagers — by making them more prone to anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders. Excessive social networking is a disease and we desperately need a cure. When excessive amount of time is spent on social networking websites, people have less time or less desire to socialize with others in the physical world. People who do not have physical person-to-person interactions have a harder time accomplishing important social tasks. It can also create many problems for people; like eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorders. Social media combines many of the visual aspects of traditional media with the opportunity for social media users to interact and propagate stereotypes: that leads to eating problems and body image concerns. No doubt, social media has led to enormous improvements in global social interactions, but it can also damage the ability to personally communicate in the real world. In addition, it has created major health concerns, especially among youths. Overuse of media can only be minimize by giving our children awareness about its hazardous effects on daily lives. Parents and teachers can play vital role here to save our young generation from major health problems, both physical and psychological. Kiran Fatima Islamabad Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2017.