Mounting evidence shows social media is harming teens’ mental health: what can we do about it?

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Since the inception of social media (SM) over two decades ago, it has gathered a huge user base, with over 62% of users worldwide. In the lead is Facebook, with over 3 billion users. Surveys even report that people have been spending significantly more time scrolling since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The most concerning fact, however, is the frequent use of SM by teenagers. According to a 2023 survey, SM use is almost ubiquitous among teenagers with smartphones, 94% of whom use the internet several times per day, while 46% are online ‘almost constantly’. This rapidly growing use of SM among teenagers has been linked to a rise in mental health issues like anxiety and depression, according to a recent review published in the Current Psychiatry Reports journal.

Research over the past few years has shown a correlation between poor mental health among teenagers and more time spent on SM. Although the reasons for this association are not fully understood, some factors that might have a role in establishing this negative relationship have been identified, such as a decrease in social interactions, family time, hobbies, exercise, and sleep, all as a result of devoting more time to SM. Reduced sleep, or insomnia, might have the most effect, for inadequate sleep due to excessive screen time results in a decline in mental health.

Peer influence and the fear of missing out —the potential instigators:

Peer influence and the fear of missing out (FoMO) are some reasons why teenagers might spend significant amounts of time on SM. Adolescent brains are not fully mature and, therefore, have less self-control. Moreover, the areas in the brain that are associated with the desire for validation are more sensitive, leading to decisions that may be peer-influenced. According to the results of a UK-based study, teenagers even have distinct developmental windows where sensitivity to the impact of SM is greater. This window differs by gender, where in boys it occurs at 14–15 years of age, while in girls it may be earlier, at around 11–13 years of age. 

FoMO, a term that has become quite popular over the past few years, is another factor that increases SM usage among teenagers. It is an anxiety-inducing situation where an individual fears that they’ll miss out on the fun that others in their social circle might be having and is often characterized by a desire to stay connected to what others are doing. A 2020 study found a positive association between SM use and FoMO. The study suggests that because adolescents have appropriated the cultural norm of being online all the time, they are particularly susceptible to developing FoMO. In turn, FoMO has been associated with depression, anxiety, and disturbed sleeping patterns, and has also shown a predisposition to problematic SM use.

Increase in depression and anxiety among teenagers:

Over the past decade, the prevalence of depression in teenagers has increased, especially among girls. According to some researchers, this can be attributed to increased time being spent on SM. As per studies, using SM can affect activities like exercise and sleep, which are important for well-being. Failure to achieve these can lead to the development of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, research also shows that teenagers who are depressed use SM more than their non-depressed peers, thereby staying in a vicious cycle of SM consumption and a continuous depressive state. 

Anxiety, which is one of the most common mental health conditions in teenagers, has also increased in prevalence with an increase in SM use. Teenagers (especially those who may be socially anxious) prefer the virtual environment that SM offers, neglecting face-to-face social interactions. This has a detrimental impact on interpersonal relationships and adversely affects social connections. Too much reliance on SM can even worsen their social anxiety. 

Because teenagers can experience increased pleasure in response to SM feedback (measured through the dopaminergic reward pathways in the brain), they are more vulnerable to extended SM engagement, showing an increased reluctance to disengage themselves from it. They might seek reassurance from SM to manage anxiety, but they can become more lonely or socially isolated as a result. 

What can be done?

It is crucial that teenagers receive all the support and guidance they can get at this time when SM can have such a huge impact on their mental health and development. This includes professional support from clinicians, who should provide education to all patients and caregivers about how using SM can affect mental health and support healthy SM habits among teenagers. This, of course, includes continuously addressing and assessing their SM habits that might contribute to mental health issues. 

Parents, in addition to restricting screen time and using parental controls, should try to have honest conversations, maintain an open dialogue about SM with teenagers, and encourage them to use SM mindfully.