The document discusses the negative effects that excessive social media and smartphone use can have, noting that they are new types of addiction that are difficult to avoid in modern society. Some of the negative impacts mentioned include decreased attention spans, increased loneliness and depression, cyberbullying, and sleep deprivation from nighttime phone use. The piece suggests that while social media and smartphones are powerful tools, overuse can undermine mental and physical health, especially for younger users who are still developing.