Teen mental health is a growing concern, especially when social media is involved.

Teen mental health is an escalating concern, particularly with the pervasive influence of social media. Teenagers are increasingly tethered to their smartphones, endlessly scrolling through platforms like Instagram, consuming content at an unprecedented rate. This behaviour raises questions about its effects on their developing minds. The United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory titled “Social Media and Youth Mental Health,” highlighting the risks of excessive social media use among adolescents, a group navigating a critical and volatile phase of life. Dr. Linda Mayes, chair of the Yale Child Study Centre, draws a parallel to the societal concerns sparked by television’s rise, noting that today’s social media challenges echo those earlier anxieties.

Key Drivers of Social Media Consumption by Teens:

Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to the allure of social media due to their developmental stage. Their heightened emotions and limited emotional regulation make them susceptible to the content they encounter online, often leading to compulsive use. Several factors drive this behaviour:

• Desire to con­nect with others

• Fear of miss­ing out or FOMO

• Social pres­sure and expectations.

• Hyper­-con­nec­tiv­i­ty and hyper-interactivity with technology.

• Feelings of stress, anx­i­ety, depres­sion, and most commonly boredom.

Some Statistics about Social Media

Many studies and surveys show that the consumption of social media by teens has its side effects. Let’s look into some stats done by the top universities to understand how social media is changing the lifestyle of teenagers:

• Over 95% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 are active on social media.

• One in three teens reports being on social media “almost constantly.”

• Although most platforms require users to be at least 13, more than 30% of users are younger than that.

• Adolescents using social media for over three hours per day are at double the risk of poor mental health outcomes.

• Eighth and tenth graders spend an average of 3.5 hours a day on social media.

• Nearly 66% of teens frequently encounter hate-based content online.

• Social media bullying is closely tied to rising levels of teenage depression.

Identifiers for the Negative Impact of Social Media on Teenagers

• Miss out on real-world friend­ships and social­iza­tion opportunities.

• Become high­ly self-crit­i­cal (often due to com­par­isons to false real­i­ties pre­sent­ed on social media).

• Expe­ri­ence cyberbullying.

• Feel increased lev­els of depres­sion, anx­i­ety, stress, or isolation.

• Strug­gle to con­cen­trate at school or at work.

• Fail to sleep sound­ly or get a good night’s rest.

• Stop prac­tic­ing pos­i­tive self-care and self-reflection.

Negative Consequences on Teenagers of Social Media

While searching on internet for the positive side of using social media, one can find a number of articles supporting this statement. But, on a psychological level, the excessive uses of social media have a more negative impact than a positive one on teenagers. If we understand in simple language, a teenage mind is very curious and wants to explore everything it finds, which results in excess knowledge which they can’t process at that age. Dr. Murthy’s advisory emphasises disproportionate harm to adolescent girls and those with pre-existing mental health issues, particularly in areas like cyberbullying-related depression, body image issues, disordered eating, and poor sleep quality. Dr. Mayes notes that algorithms can exacerbate these problems by feeding teens content related to their searches, such as depression or suicide, potentially normalising harmful thoughts. Common consequences include:

• Depres­sion and anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Unconfident Body Structure

• Inad­e­quate sleep dis­rupting neu­ro­log­i­cal devel­op­ment and lead to depres­sion

• Bad Eat­ing Behaviours

• Online harass­ment.

Solution for this growing concern

There is no doubt that social media possesses benefits, despite also presenting challenges for Teen Mental Health. Social media heavily influences the social and personal lives of teenagers. Based on incomplete and contradictory knowledge of these teenagers and digital technology, organisations guide parents, educators, and institutions about this rising issue and how to overcome it. Currently, the most effective solutions suggested by psychologists, other medical professionals & researchers to guardians or parents, policy makers, and technological companies are mentioned below.

For Teenagers:

• Seek help from a trusted adult if social media negatively affects you.

• Learn digital literacy skills to understand privacy and protect personal information.

• Set boundaries to balance online and offline activities.

For Tech Companies:

• Conduct independent assessments of social media’s impact on users.

• Prioritise user health and safety in platform design.

• Develop systems to address complaints from teens, families, and educators.

For Parents or Guardians:

• Model responsible social media use, as children often emulate their parents.

• Encourage in-person interactions, especially during meals and before bedtime.

• Emphasise the value of family relationships over digital engagement.

© 2024 Crivva - Business Promotion. All rights reserved.