Exploring The Link Between Mental Health And Social Media In Adolescence

Social media can result in a mixed blend of effects on teenagers. While some impacts on young adults can be positive, social media can also lead to a wide range of adverse effects on developing adolescent minds. For instance, social media usage among teenagers can lead to bullying, harassment, the development of various mental health conditions, sleep deprivation, social comparison, and more. If you’re not sure how to best support your teen as a parent, consider scheduling an online or in-person therapy session. 

What is social media, and how popular is it among teenagers?

Social media can be defined as a form of communication and interaction among people who create, share, and exchange content and information through virtual platforms and communities. According to data from a 2023 Pew Research Center report, more people between the ages of 13 and 17 tend to use YouTube than any other social media platform.

• YouTube (95%)
• TikTok (67%)
• Instagram (62%)
• Snapchat (59%
• Facebook (32%)
• Twitter (23%)
• Twitch (20%)
• WhatsApp (17%)
• Reddit (14%)
• Tumblr (5%)

Studies show that most teens (75%) use social media apps like YouTube and TikTok daily, with nearly half saying they use it several times a day, and 20% or less saying they use social media constantly, depending on the platform. The same study shows that more than half of the teens using social media would likely have difficulty giving it up. 

What are the positive and negative effects of teen social media usage?

Young people can gain both benefits and drawbacks from social media use. Social media can affect adolescent development in many ways, from building or lowering self-esteem to reinforcing unhealthy habits or finding ways to express themselves. The potential beneficial effects of social media engagement include the following:

• Connecting with family and friends from far away
• Finding information more easily
• Meeting other people with similar interests
• Accessing multimedia forms of entertainment
• Providing unique platforms for self-expression
• Extending one’s emotional support system
• Enabling users to learn new skills and discover or develop interests

With that said, research has uncovered various potentially adverse effects of social media that can cause challenges for teenage users. These might include the following:

• Exposing people to rumor-spreading, trolling, and cyber-bullying
• Decreasing face-to-face contact and damaging relationships
• Perpetuating unrealistic views of others’ lives and promoting social comparison
• Serving as a distraction or addiction, which can interfere with other commitments
• Fostering peer pressure
• Causing or contributing to mental health conditions
• Promoting drama and/or conflict

Understanding how using social media in adolescence affects mental health

Social media can be an excellent way to stay connected with people you don't get to see every day, helping to foster communication across the world. However, it can also affect teenagers differently than adults. 

Developing brains can get hooked on the “likes”

In general, a teenager’s brain is still developing, and when they receive likes on their social media content, it can activate regions of the brain associated with reward, often contributing to the development of feedback-seeking behaviors. This area of the brain can be susceptible during adolescence, perhaps offering some insight into the intense draw most teens feel toward it. 

Peer pressure goes digital

Many teenagers feel intense pressure from their peers to look or behave a certain way. Social media can expand the scope of peer pressure. Young adults often shape their behaviors around what they believe their peers will find acceptable, and with social media, they can be bombarded with constant peer pressure.

Peer influence can be positive or negative

Social media can have a powerful peer influence over adolescents, but that influence isn’t always negative. When used in moderation and with a cultivated network of positive outlooks and experiences, social media can build a teen’s confidence and encourage healthy, productive behaviors. 

Bullying and harassment can be hard to escape 

The downside to instant communication with people worldwide may be that it can be challenging to get away from online bullying and harassment. According to recent data, approximately 59% of teens in the United States have experienced one of the six types of online abusive behaviors. 

Sexting and other mature content can be shared without consent

One of the significant downsides to social media may be the exposure to explicit content. Many teenagers can be persuaded to exchange messages and photos of a sexual nature without considering the long-term implications. While taking and sending sexually graphic images underage is generally illegal, these images can be shared without consent, which can drastically impact adolescent health, emotional state, reputation, and other areas of life. 

Mental health conditions

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory document in 2021 to help parents understand the challenges young people face concerning their mental health, with social media listed as one of the primary causes for concern. 

While gender and popularity tend to moderate associations with mental health concerns like depression and anxiety, studies typically show a strong connection to social comparison and feedback-seeking through social media.

Sleep deprivation

While a lack of respect for a healthy sleep schedule can be a typical teenage trait, some adolescents spend so much time on social media that they may lose a significant amount of valuable sleep, potentially affecting their cognitive and physical function.

Jealousy, envy, and constant social comparison

Social media can often cause teens to compare themselves to others, unable to compare to frequently edited photos and exaggerated virtual lives. Though jealousy and envy can be common emotions for everyone to feel occasionally, social media can make them constant, leading to low self-esteem and depressive symptoms.

Misunderstandings due to digital communication

Digital communication, like messaging on social media, doesn’t usually allow for the tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions one would typically get with in-person interactions, making misunderstandings possible. 

Isolation from real-world connections

Spending too much time on social media can dull a person's real-world interpersonal skills, possibly making it difficult or awkward to communicate in person.

Unhealthy coping by escaping challenging or negative emotions

Some teens may use social media to avoid coping with negative emotions or to escape challenging feelings they don’t want to face. While it can be effective, it doesn’t usually solve the problems and can reinforce maladaptive coping mechanisms. 

Recognizing the signs social media may be impacting your teen’s mental health

If you’ve been worried your adolescent’s social media use is affecting their mental health or causing low self-esteem, you might check for these signs. 

• Being distracted from their real life and responsibilities by social media
• Using social media to avoid negative feelings or only feeling negative after scrolling 
• Showing increased frequency or severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and loneliness
• Having little time or attention for self-care activities like eating, sleeping, or exercising
• Spending more time on social media than with their real-world friends and family
• Allowing school, work, relationships, or family obligations to slide while spending time on social media
• Comparing themselves unfavorably to others on social media or frequently displaying jealousy and envy
• Being bullied or harassed online
• Taking unnecessary risks or posting increasingly extreme or explicit content

How online therapy can help you support your teenager

Many parents and guardians benefit from the additional emotional support and parenting guidance of a mental health professional as they navigate the teenage years along with their children. 

Benefits of online therapy

Consider working with a licensed therapist online through a virtual teletherapy platform like BetterHelp to learn the parenting, communication, and conflict-resolution skills to navigate your child’s adolescence and receive the emotional support you deserve. 

If you are a parent or guardian who believes your child would benefit from the support and guidance of a therapist, you can find online therapy for children ages 13 to 19 at TeenCounseling. Both platforms enable users to schedule virtual therapy sessions at convenient times rather than sacrificing time away from other important commitments (like school, sports, or social time).

Effectiveness of online therapy

Studies generally indicate that online and in-person therapy tend to provide comparable outcomes. If you’re interested in seeking professional help regarding your teen’s mental health and social media usage, you may rest assured that either option can be a valid and effective choice.