26 Feb Social Media Use and Teens
When you hear “social media”, what comes to mind? What ways would you describe social media? Are they positive attributes? Negative? What do you think about when considering teens and the use of social media? Have those attributes changed?
Though social media is a great source for education, marketing, connecting to the world, and many other positive things, it can also be a dangerous place. This is especially true for teens who are vulnerable and impressionable to a world of unlimited information and access. .
There is an increase of negative mental health outcomes due to excess use of social media, especially in teens. “The brain is going through a highly sensitive period between ages 10 and 19, when identities and feelings of self worth are forming,” (Katella, 2024). According to Yale Medicine, using social media for more than a couple hours a day doubles the risk of negative mental health effects.
“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being,” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The state of our mental health affects how we interact with the world, handle life problems and stressors, and manage our thoughts and emotions, and even the stability of our physical well-being.
Those who engage in excess use of social media have reported to have a higher percentage of mental health struggles – like depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm – than those who limit social media use. The average number of hours a day teens spend on social media apps, such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, is 4.8 hours, (American Psychological Association).
Photo and video based social media are common for causing negative effects on body image. “More than 1 in 10 youth showed signs of problematic social media behavior, struggling to control their use and experiencing negative consequences. Girls Reported higher labels of problematic social media use than boys (13% vs 9%),” (World Health Organization). Why is that? The false perception of realistic body images creates the need for acceptance, which is due to the need for society’s validation of physical and social appearance. Comparison of others on social media is at a higher risk, especially due to editing, filters, photoshop, and AI.
Why is it so hard to get away from social media? The algorithms used on social media platforms are made to suck you in to endless scrolling, or “doom scrolling”, which can lead to being unaware of how much time has passed. For apps like TikTok and Instagram, the algorithm for “reels” picks up on your interests to keep you gripping for more content, showing you what you like with every few scrolls. This is what leads to “doom scrolling” and eventually, addiction.
Social media can also be addicting because it is often used to escape reality. People, especially teens, struggling with mental health often use social media as an escape from the stressors of daily life. This leads to social media becoming an outlet, which often turns into an addictive habit that further increases mental health decline.
Aside from social media being addicting, it can also pose serious dangers, especially to impressionable and vulnerable teens. There are also known dangers of sexual exploitation, leaving teens that heavily use social media more vulnerable to being targeted. Sexting, sextortion, and pornography are all accessible to anyone with a screen and access to social media. It is important for you and your children to be educated on the dangers, risks, and implement protective factors so they are more likely to avoid dangerous situations.
Did you know that if your child takes a nude photo of themselves on your account or device, it does not have to be sent to anyone for it to be considered illegal pornography? Did you also know that leaving Airdrop on at all times allows anyone in close proximity to send a photo or video to your phone wherever you are? It is important to know the dangers, legalities, and measures you must take to protect yourself and your children at all costs.
Strong parental relationships and monitoring of social media activity can reduce the risk of mental health problems among teens. How do you do this? Get kids comfortable talking to adults, and vice versa. This will create positive, honest and open relationships between parents and teens, as well as have a positive impact on the child’s social media use, improving mental health.
Set boundaries, regulations, and develop close parent-child relationships. Increase parental involvement in your child’s social media use to decrease the risk of negative mental health effects and dangerous outcomes that risk you and your child’s life.
For more information on how to stay safe and educated on social media use, visit Safe Screens Sound Minds on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122102937740642807&set=a.122102937830642807 or visit the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama’s website https://ctf.alabama.gov/signature-work/digital-safety/.
Most of the information used was provided by the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama and Fowler Davis 4 Change through their Safe and Sound Initiative presentation.
Other Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Psychological Association
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.