Abstract
Social media has become an integral part of everyone’s lives in this day and age, with these platforms facilitating our self-expression, providing support from unfamiliar peers, and expanding access to information and services. However, these positive impacts are often overshadowed by risks such as technology addiction and approval-seeking behaviours. This paper examines the impact of adolescent social media use on mental health based on research and data from recent years. According to the findings, 48% of adolescents use social media for 3 hours or more per day, 43.7% of adolescents have moderate to severe psychological distress, and the prevalence is higher among females (54%) than males (31%) (Mougharbel et al., 2023). As a result, girls and LGBTQ adolescents are particularly vulnerable, including depression, anxiety, and becoming highly self-critical (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2025). Some of the reasons for this include cyberbullying, anxiety over appearance comparisons and the spread of negative messages.
Introduction
We as people need to be connected, and when we connect with others on an emotional level, it can improve our physical and mental health (Stiles, 2021). Maintaining a rewarding socialisation has helped to alleviate stress, worry, and depression, but due to the explosive growth of social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the way in which individuals connect and communicate has changed significantly over the past decade (Khalaf et al., 2023). The popularity of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube is reflected in the following statistics: 54% of those who “give up” social media say it is difficult, while 35% of them say it is “almost always”. using at least one or more social media platforms (Intern & Intern, 2024). As we transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescence is a critical and adult transition period. According to GilPress, 2024, 98% of Gen Z’s have had their first cell phone since adolescence and have been exposed to social media early, but this widespread usage has raised concerns about the impact of social media on young users because of both the benefits and risks it brings.
Positive Impact
- Access to Information and Resources
The most familiar perceived function of social media is perhaps entertainment; however, social media is also an important platform for young people to access information and educational resources. Through different social media platforms such as YouTube, Linked and Telegram, there is access to a vast amount of information in a variety of fields, breaking up the traditional classroom and going beyond what is taught in the textbook. Teenagers can gain knowledge beyond the written word through different instructional videos, courses and even helpful learning webinars online, and can also expand their knowledge to additional areas of interest. For example, in graphic design, psychology, beauty as well as beauty knowledge, fashion and language programs, students can watch professional video tutorials through social media apps. Teens can also create study groups with friends on social media to work in groups and share ideas and insights with each other. Social media also facilitates interaction between teachers and students, allowing introverted students to ask teachers questions more freely through social media, which increases learning opportunities and provides face-to-face professional guidance that is difficult to obtain in the classroom.
In addition, social media provides a wealth of educational content on mental health issues and coping strategies. For example, content creators on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram offer a wide range of positive and mentally literate videos and posts that can help teens better adjust to their emotions and challenges in life. Not only that, but social media generally offers hotlines and even online therapy services that can protect teens with barriers to mental health care, which can be effective in immediately intervening with teens in areas where psychotherapy is not widely available.
- Social Support and Connection
One of the positive impacts that teenagers can get through the internet is the ability to expand their social circle and create opportunities to interact with peers or relatives, and friends in other communities around the global. Since people can make friends on social media platforms in the modern world, real-life barriers to communication due to geographic and time differences no longer exist. Social media makes a lot of convenient for young people around the world who are sharing the same interests to interact with each other, even if they are far from apart. According to Lenhart (2024), 83% of teens are more connected to their friends’ lives through social media, and 70% of teens report being more aware of their friends’ emotions. Additionally, 68% of teens find these platforms to be supportive in times of distress (Lenhart, 2024). Adolescents also have a lot of opportunities to tell their own stories on the Internet and be recognised through some ways, such as likes, comments, and followers. In addition, teenagers today have a wide range of opportunities to develop various skills that can not only train their personal interests but also help to shape their future. According to the survey Journal and Journal (2014), from learning the art of cooking, which will help to build teenagers’ patience, creativity, and an appreciation for different cultures. Some creative activities such as digital drawing, photography, graphic design and so on that allowed teenagers to express themselves and develop their eyes for detail. These hobbies and skills that stated above can also improve teenagers’ critical thinking, problem-solving, discipline and more, which are playing in an important role for their personal growth. Whether they trying to explore the common skills such as music production, video editing, or coding, these skills can lead to future careers, or it can just be enjoyable recreation. To sum up this point, developing these talents helps teenagers to build self-confidence, have the courage to try and learn new things, feel proud of their achievements and so on.
Negative Effects
- Cyberbullying and Mental Health Issues
One of the best parts of social media is that it helps to maintain a healthy relationship, but certainly, the worst can also happen, such as cyberbullying. There is a segment of less sophisticated internet users who take advantage of the anonymity of social media to intimidate, threaten, and insult others. The fact that they are not sanctioned for these rampant comments has led to the growing phenomenon of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying usually occurs when a teenager tries to share another teenager’s private or personal information with others, sending or posting disruptive or inaccurate content about a peer with the intent to embarrass or humiliate them (Staff, 2024). For example, a cyberbully may upload inappropriate pictures of another teen or posts that are taken out of context or have misleading words.
However, people who suffer from cyber violence are more likely to suffer from some negative feelings, such as depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. As for teens, they are more susceptible because traditional bullying is confined to school grounds, which means that the time in which they can be bullied or the chance of one to bully others is limited. In contrast, cyberbullying takes place around the clock, and they can be attacked or be bullied at any time or any place. According to Staff (2024), teens who are been cyberbullied are four times more likely to engage in self-harming or suicidal behaviours compared to teens who are not cyberbullied, and teenage cyberbullying “really affected their ability to learn and feel safe at school,” according to two-thirds of kids who have been victims of it. While these reporting mechanisms for harassment have been put in place by social media, there is still a lack of intervention. The emotional and psychological effects therefore require victims to take long-term measures.
Another huge impact social media has on teens is causing their mental health but is mainly caused by envy. When teenagers start to have a comparative mindset they start to have social comparisons, mainly by seeing pictures of other people’s lives that they share, they compare their own lives to others, which leads to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Therefore taking part in networking has become inevitable for young people nowadays so that they don’t miss out on certain events and “can’t keep up with the trends”. This invisible pressure forces them to develop a more “intimate” relationship with their electronic devices, needing to regularly check their devices to make sure they haven’t missed any important notifications, also due to the link between anxiety and low subjective well-being of modern young users. In addition, spending too much time on social media also affects the quality of our sleep, as staring at a screen for a long period of time before bedtime can cause the brain’s ability to produce the sleep hormone melatonin to be disrupted, leading to a decrease in the quality of our sleep, which can lead to irregular sleep (Social Media Boundaries Can Improve Teen Sleep, n.d.). And all these various reasons then tend to lead to induce anxiety and depression in teenagers, and this phenomenon creates a cycle in teenagers.
Conclusion
To summarise and to support the points that were stated and explained above, the internet offers both benefits and challenges for teenagers. On the positive side, it provides many valuable learning opportunities. Teenagers can explore a wide range of skills, from cooking and computer programming to digital drawing and other creative activities. These skills can help them to develop their hobbies or even lead to personal growth. In addition, the internet allows teens to deepen their understanding of subjects that they already know, such as science, languages, history and more. With access to numerous websites, videos, and other resources, learning becomes easier and sometimes even more enjoyable. The internet also plays a significant role in helping teenagers stay connected socially. No matter how far apart they are, teens can communicate with friends, family, and even teachers through chatting apps and video calls. Online platforms provide a space for them to meet new people who will share similar interests. This is particularly valuable for teens who may not have as many opportunities for social interaction in their real lives, as it helps them avoid feeling isolated. In this way, the internet is an important tool for both socialising and learning for teenagers. However, there are also concerns to consider. One of the major issues is cyberbullying, which is sadly common online. This type of behaviour can hurt a teenager’s feelings and cause emotional and psychological problems. It can even lead to serious mental health challenges, including stress and long-term emotional struggles (Y & Y, 2021). Social media is another area of concern. Teenagers often feel pressure to present a perfect image of themselves, which can create stress and lead to negative self-perception. The constant comparison to others can leave them feeling inadequate or sad. Additionally, spending too much time on screens can interfere with other important aspects of life. Teens may miss out on a lot of activities, such as outdoor activities, face-to-face conversations, or getting enough sleep, all of which can negatively affect their physical and mental health. Lastly, while the internet offers great value for knowledge and communication, it is essential to recognise and address the potential risks. Ensuring that teenagers use the internet responsibly and in moderation is key to avoiding many of these issues. To maintain a healthy balance and being mindful of how the internet is used can help minimise its negative impact.
Reference
Mougharbel, F., Chaput, J., Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., Hamilton, H. A., Colman, I., Leatherdale, S. T., & Goldfield, G. S. (2023). Heavy social media use and psychological distress among adolescents: the moderating role of sex, age, and parental support. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190390
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Hi Shannon Kate, You’re right to ask; it is incredibly difficult to police these issues today. Predatory behaviour isn’t exclusive…