Which revision would best improve the parallel structure in sentence 18 from paragraph 6?

Question

A.By creating unrealistic expectations, decreasing attention spans, and providing a skewed worldview, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world.
B.By creating unrealistic expectations, attention span decreases, and providing a skewed view of the world, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world.
C.By unrealistic expectations, decreased attention spans, and a skewed view of the world, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world.
D.By creating unrealistic expectations, decreasing attention spans, and skewing worldviews, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world.

[1] Social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ lives in today's world. [2] While it offers many benefits, such as connecting with friends and accessing information, it also has a dark side. [3] Social media is corrupting the way teenagers think about today's society, leading to unrealistic expectations, decreased attention spans, and a distorted view of reality.2 [4] Firstly, social media creates unrealistic expectations about life and success. [5] Teenagers are constantly bombarded with carefully curated images and posts that only show the highlights of people's lives. [6] This leads to a false belief that everyone else is living perfect lives, while their own experiences seem inadequate in comparison. [7] As a result, many teenagers develop low self-esteem and a skewed perception of what constitutes a normal life.3 [8] Secondly, the constant stream of information and entertainment on social media platforms has significantly affected teenagers' attention spans. [9] The need for instant gratification and the fear of missing out (FOMO) have made it difficult for young people to focus on tasks that require sustained concentration. [10] This not only impacts their academic performance but also their ability to engage in meaningful real-world interactions and activities.4 [11] However, some argue that social media has a positive impact on teenagers’ perception of society. [12] They claim that these platforms expose young people to diverse perspectives and global issues, helping them become more informed and socially conscious. [13] Supporters of social media argue that it allows teenagers to connect with like-minded individuals and participate in important social movements, thereby broadening their understanding of the world.5 [14] While the argument for social media’s positive impact has merit, the negative consequences outweigh these potential benefits. [15] The exposure to diverse perspectives is often superficial and doesn't necessarily translate to real-world understanding or empathy. [16] Moreover, the echo chamber effect of social media algorithms can actually limit exposure to diverse viewpoints reinforcing existing biases and misconceptions.6 [17] In conclusion, while social media has its advantages, it's negative impact on teenagers' perception of society cannot be ignored. [18] By creating unrealistic expectations, decreasing attention spans, and providing a skewed view of the world, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world. [19] Although it may offer some benefits in terms of global awareness, these are outweighed by its detrimental effects. [20] It is crucial for parents, educators, and society as a whole to address this issue and help teenagers develop a more balanced and realistic view of the world around them.

Answer 1

The revision that would best improve the parallel structure in sentence 18 from paragraph 6 is:

D. By creating unrealistic expectations, decreasing attention spans, and skewing worldviews, social media is shaping a generation that struggles to understand the complexities of the real world.

This option maintains a consistent structure by using gerunds ("creating," "decreasing," and "skewing") for all three phrases, thus enhancing the parallelism in the sentence.