Social media has a huge influence over our lives - of that there is no doubt. The negatives are well known - it can sow division, propagate misinformation, stir up hatred and open the door to all manner of negative influences. But - it can also be fun, informative, socially engaging and actually drive real change. It all depends how you use it and what you are exposed to.
Many adults binge on content, getting "lost in the scroll for" hours as they absorb information from their favourite content providers, influencers and personalities. For teenagers' mental health, the risk of prolonged exposure to social media can be very difficult to manage.
A recent study by the Education Policy Institute in the United Kingdom found that around 1 in 6 teenagers (11-17) suffered with a probable mental disorder in 2021, up from 1 in 9 in 2017. It is particularly bad for teenage girls, where social media habits are arguably more destructive than in teenage boys.
The issues the study focused on were as follows:
Personal well-being
As teens begin high school there is a marked drop in levels of personal well-being. Around one in seven girls report being unhappy with the way they look at the end of elementary school, rising to almost one in three by age 14.
While the majority of teens remain at least moderately happy with their families, friends, school, and personal appearance as they move into high school, the proportion of girls who are unhappy in each of these areas rises.
Social media can amplify both positive and negative trends but the pervasive, "always-on" nature of devices/platforms in 2021 means that comparing yourself to your peers can be habitual and therefore very detrimental to teenagers mental health..
Self-esteem
As teens grow and move into different social circles, many teens have highlighted the transition to high school as being particularly hard on their self-esteem due to increased concerns about being judged and not fitting in.
Social media's ability to be exclusive and for messaging groups to preclude entry to certain people certainly play a role in mental well being here. It is now easier than ever to make someone feel alone and isolated, simply by denying them access to a group their peers are allowed to join.
Psychological distress
COVID-19 has put increasing pressure on teens due to the fact that social interactions in real life have been greatly curtailed. Instances of social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders and other conditions seem to be anecdotally on the rise for many teens. Again, girls seem to be suffering more acutely than boys.
Social media can aggravate these sorts of conditions but it can also provide respite for teens by allowing them to interact socially by remote means, relieving pressure and providing a much needed outreach channel.
Supporting your teens
Many families in 2021 are using therapy to help them with teenage mental health issues. At $150/hr + it can be very expensive. There are other cheaper options which might be worth considering; like peer counseling. Peer counseling on platforms such as Peer Collective connects teens/parents with peer counselors (naturally empathetic people with high emotional intelligence) who are supported by licensed therapists.
You can speak to someone today for free if you are worried about your daughter/son. Many peer counselors are parents of teens and will be going through the same thing as you.