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With the rising of mental health issues among teens, some experts wonder how much social media is to blame. According to a research study of American teens, ages twelve to fifteen, those that used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms. Concerns abound about the impact of social media on adolescents as it becomes an integral part of their social lives.

So, what is social media? It’s a collection of websites, digital tools, and apps that allow users to connect with each other and create online communications. Users can communicate via text, images, audio, and video. Algorithms are built into platforms based on information they’ve collected from prior interactions. They were designed to attract and hold a person’s attention. Addictive design is achieved when the algorithms hook its user. They are run by profit-making companies that want customers to stay on their platforms, continue to play their games, and download special offers to unlock more levels. This addiction can be stronger than a child’s ability to control their usage. While playing video games for example, the brain rewards the person with a squirt of dopamine, providing a feeling of euphoria and pleasure. The more one plays, the more they want to play. Studies have shown that children and teenagers exposed to violence in video games can desensitize them to pain in others, bullying, and acts of aggression. The brain responds to social media the same way with a release of dopamine when a teen posts something online and is met with likes, shares, and positive comments. The problem is not the screens but the way they are used constantly.

How does this affect mental health? The type of content teens consume, the degree to which their online interactions disrupt activities essential for health, such as sleep and physical activity, and the amount of time adolescents spend on platforms can affect them in different ways, depending on their individual strengths and vulnerabilities. The brain is going through a sensitive period between the ages of ten and nineteen when identities and feelings of self-worth are forming. Frequent use of social media may contribute to changes in the developing brain, affecting emotional learning and behavior, impulse control, and emotional regulation. The addictive qualities of social media can prime the brain to substance addiction according to the Newport Academy for treatment of mental health.

Many experts believe that the constant overstimulation of social networking shifts the nervous system into fight-or-flight mode, exacerbating disorders such as anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder. Some experts argue that teenagers’ use of social media is adding to their depression, while others believe that depression leaves teens uninterested in other activities and they turn to social media by default. Other research suggests another possibility. Some teens are purposely using social media to promote their well-being.

Health hazard or healthy inspiration? Social media can impact teen mental health through negative social comparison. Teenagers on social media spend too much time observing the lives and images of their peers. This leads to constant comparison which can damage their self-esteem and body image, leading to anxiety or exacerbating depression. When they compare themselves to filtered photos of their peers and of celebrities, they often feel inferior. This links teens to a higher risk of eating disorders, low self-esteem, and a negative body image. Along these lines, there are online forums that encourage teenagers in unhealthy and dangerous behaviors. Hence, their self-destructive routines. Obsessive calorie counting, fasting, and over-exercising are accepted and encouraged. The teenager learns to hide or intensify the behavior that puts them at greater risk.

On the opposite side, adolescents can find positive role models online that inspire them to develop healthy habits. Watching peers or role models eating nutritious meals, doing something creative, or getting outside in nature encourages them to do the same. These positive forums inspire youth to try something new, follow their dreams, and speak up about things that matter to them, thus helping with identity development and giving them support.

What are some other potential harms of social media? The more time adolescents spend on platforms, the more suspectable they are to peer pressure, cyberbullying, and sexting. Youth are sensitive to both positive and rejection from others. They are less capable of controlling their impulses from scrolling because the area of the brain that controls self-regulation are still immature. Teens are emotionally invested in their social media accounts and feel pressure to respond quickly online. Not only that, but they must have the perfect posts and pictures. Girls, especially, worry about what others think of them and how people will respond. Factor in cyberbullying and a toxic source of anxiety happens. Victims of prolonged cyberbullying experience psychosocial problems like isolation, loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, and can lead to suicidal ideation.

Sexting refers to the practice of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit images or texts online. Teen sexting is usually consensual and can be used in a romantic relationship to build intimacy. The problem is that the images remain permanently online and can lead to harm if the relationship ends, or the other party decides to share the images with others. Sexual predators online can complicate matters as well. This vulnerability leads to increased anxiety and depression. Whether adolescents successfully transition as functional members of society depends on their mental health.

In conclusion, the vulnerability of adolescence doesn’t have to result in diminished well-being. Under the right conditions, teenagers can learn to cope with the challenges they face, using them to develop resilience and establish a sense of identity. The evidence is inconclusive whether social media usage leads to mental health issues. Many studies over the years have various results. The problem seems to be the amount of screen time used. Excessive use has been linked to sleep problems, attention problems, and feelings of exclusion in adolescents.

Parents should educate their teens about being careful with privacy settings, avoiding strangers online, not giving out personal information, and to report cyberbullying. They should also set down some rules, such as off social media an hour before bedtime and leaving their phones out of the bedroom at night. The teens at greater risk of negative outcomes are those who feel overwhelmed by digital stress, experience cyberbullying, engage in social comparison, and experience negative repercussions when expressing marginalized identities. It’s good to unplug from social media for a while if feeling stressed or anxious from too much screen time. Instead go for a walk to decompress or actually talk to their family and off-line friends.