Does social media do more harm than good?
Teens and Social Media – The Mental Health Impact
It’s no secret that today’s teens spend hours a day on social media platforms. A 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory noted that over a third of teens aged 13–17 reported that they used social media “almost constantly.” The popularity of apps may vary year to year, but the alarm over their impact on teens’ well-being has only grown with time. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube offer teens entertainment, connection, and sometimes even economic opportunities.
But overuse and individual psychological factors may contribute to poor mental health outcomes, including increased severity of depression and anxiety symptoms as well as eating disorders and suicide. Given the ongoing adolescent mental health crisis, understanding the benefits and drawbacks of social media is imperative for parents and caretakers to best support troubled teens and set appropriate limits.
Why is social media good for teens?
With all the negative press surrounding social media use, parents may wonder if it offers any benefits to youth. Do any positive effects of social media outweigh its potential risks? The original purpose of such platforms (which began emerging around 2004) suggests several potential benefits of social media for teens:
Connection and social support
Social media was designed to provide opportunities for connection. While teens in the 80s and 90s made after-school phone calls to catch up with friends, today’s teens utilize apps like Snapchat to share the day’s exciting moments or embarrassing interactions with peers. For youth who live far from extended family, social media is also a way to remain connected with cousins and grandparents. They can quickly send photos and share life updates when distance and time zone differences make regular phone calls challenging.
While some teens have robust networks of friends to connect with both online and off, others struggle to befriend peers in their local communities. They may have unique interests or a cultural identity that leaves them feeling isolated. In such cases, social media widens their pool of potential peers, improving their chances of connecting with teens who share similar interests and experiences. This can reduce feelings of loneliness, even if their primary sources of support are online.
Access to information and resources
Though vetting sources for reliability remains important, social media has rapidly increased users’ access to information and education. If teens want to learn to crochet, they can watch a quick tutorial on Instagram. If they are stuck on how to complete a math problem, they can find several YouTube videos that break down complex math concepts using common language. The ability to pause and rewind allows teens to learn at their own pace, which is especially valuable for those who struggle to keep up during classroom instruction.
Teens are also increasingly utilizing social media to access resources related to physical and mental health. Because these platforms are used by all kinds of professionals, teens can find health advice from doctors, therapists, and trainers who provide free information. Of course, teens should ideally also discuss any health concerns with their parents and their own health care providers.
Creative expression and skill development
While not every teen has access to open mic nights or in-person showcases, social media platforms provide all ample opportunity for self-expression. Youth can post their creative writing, share videos of their dance choreography, or perform a song they have been working on. Sharing creative efforts can improve teens’ resilience and self-esteem as they take in feedback from friends and strangers alike. Uploading photos or videos of their work can also promote skill development as they learn how to best present their ideas through various photography techniques or video editing styles.
What are the negative effects of social media on teenagers?
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram may have been created to promote community, but this primary goal has shifted over time. Advertising partnerships and influencer marketing have turned many social media apps into covert commercials designed to keep users engaged and scrolling for as long as possible. So, does social media do more harm than good?
Impacts on mental health
With today’s social media influencers promoting lavish lifestyles and enviable bodies, teens are increasingly caught up in comparing their own lives to perfectly curated profiles. This can contribute to low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and body image issues. Moreover, because algorithms promote content based on viewing behavior, teens who view one video that encourages a maladaptive habit like restrictive eating or self-harm are more likely to be exposed to others with similar themes. These concerns prompted the American Psychological Association (APA) to release its first health advisory on social media use in adolescence. The APA recognizes that while social media itself may be neutral, the risk of harm is evident for vulnerable teens who use it in unhealthy ways.
Cyberbullying and harassment also remain dangers of social media. Local peers may resort to bullying online, as it is difficult for schools to crack down on incidents that occur off school property. Online harassment has increased, sometimes with devastating results. As news outlets have highlighted, so-called sextortion plots have caused some teens such anguish that they have attempted or completed suicide.
Poor time management and productivity
Teens are still learning how to manage their own time and daily responsibilities. Distractions can easily throw them off course, and social media’s endless streams of content and messages provide ample diversions. Frequent use can therefore prevent them from fulfilling expectations, contributing to poor school performance or conflict with authority figures at home or after-school jobs. Research also suggests that social media use can stimulate brain reward centers at unhealthy rates, which can lead to addiction-like behaviors, such as seeking access to social platforms at inappropriate times or experiencing withdrawal when access is limited.
Privacy and safety concerns
Even with measures like parental controls and age-limited features, teens risk exposure to inappropriate content on social media. Platforms like TikTok and Facebook have community guidelines that determine whether content is appropriate, but too often photos and videos that are violent or sexually explicit slip through. Also concerning are the challenges trending on social media that promote risky behavior. These have caused adolescent injury and in rare cases, accidental death.
Due to their wavering self-esteem and limited awareness of potential dangers, teens are at increased risk of being targeted by predators. If they have not been educated on internet safety, adolescents may divulge personal details online that can lead to exploitation or identity theft.
A parent’s guide to social media safety for teens
After reviewing social media pros and cons, many parents wonder what they can do to keep their kids safe online. If you have decided to allow your teen access to some social platforms, here are some simple steps to reduce the risk of harm:
- Set boundaries. Though teens are growing in independence, it remains important to set and enforce limits, especially in areas where they are unlikely to establish them for themselves. Establish screen-free times (e.g., during dinner and the hour before bed) and zones (e.g., their bedroom and restaurants). Remind and encourage your teen to focus on offline activities and hobbies, such as in–person meetups with friends and playing an instrument.
- Communicate and monitor. Do not assume your child knows all the safety risks associated with sharing their life online. Keep an open dialogue about their social media use and discuss concerning trends like risk-taking challenges whenever they’re reported in the news. Establish expectations for monitoring the content they view and their interactions across platforms.
- Lead by example. You are your child’s first and most frequent teacher. If you want your teen to have a healthy relationship with social media, one of the best strategies is to model healthy online habits yourself. If you often find yourself scrolling during downtime or getting caught up in internet debates, leave your phone in the next room during dinner or challenge yourself to a social media fast. Similarly, be mindful of your own privacy—review your profiles to ensure no personal or family information is available to potential predators or scammers.
Know when to seek professional help
Common signs that social media may be taking a toll on your child’s mental health include withdrawal from in-person social activities, sleep disturbances, frequent negative self-comparisons, a poor body image, and excessive seeking of validation from others. If your teen’s social media use has become a concern, or if they have been exhibiting such signs and/or symptoms of depression, anxiety, or eating disorders, reach out to a mental health professional for additional guidance. Local teen therapy programs can help you and your child determine underlying causes, address symptoms, and create a plan for healthier social media use.
Teenagers and social media: Final thoughts
When confronted with the negative impact of social media on teen mental health, parents may be wary. Should kids have social media at all? But when used appropriately, social media offers opportunities for healthy connection and skill building that can improve peer relationships and bolster self-esteem. Parents, however, play a pivotal role in contributing to these beneficial outcomes by guiding their teens in using social media responsibly.