Effects of Social Media On Adolescents and Teens

Social media is a big part of any young teenager or adolescents life. It provides a way for teenagers to escape the reality of their lives while also being able to pass the time in a fun way. However social media can also have a negative effect. The negative effects of social media are often downplayed by young teenagers and may not be known to adults. Here are 3 negative effects of social media on teens and adolescents.

1. Increased risk of depression and anxiety

Social media can help bring new ways for people to meet and communicate with new people; this is not always a good thing though. Social media can connect adolescents to people who may not be the best person for them to talk to. These people could be online predators, people wanting to manipulate or control these young people, or even bullies. “Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once” (Annapolis Police Department, n.d.). “Those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms” (Katella, 2024). Social media could also expose young adolescents to things too early like images of self harm, violence, and drug use which can all negatively affect the mental health of these youths.

1. Body image problems

When going on social media we may see unrealistic body standards which can create an expectation we can’t meet. These can influence youth to try to meet these unrealistic beauty standards. This can cause teenagers to start having unhealthy eating schedules which can later cause eating disorders. “By the time girls are 13, the majority report unhappiness with their bodies. Girls and women between 12 and 25 comprise 90% of those with eating disorders” (NOW, 2024). These unrealistic standards can cause teenagers to see themselves in a more negative light and when looking in the mirror they may feel dissatisfaction along with a lowered self esteem.

1. Isolation

Social media is causing an increase in the number of teenagers who are becoming more and more isolated. Many teenagers and adolescents are currently using social media as a substitute for face to face interactions. This can cause a distorted reality, social withdrawal, and alienation. “71% of social media users reported feelings of loneliness, up from 53% a year ago.”(Coombs, 2020). The increased feeling of loneliness can cause them to have a hard time with in person social interactions leading to difficulty making and maintaining friendships. Isolation has shown to create an increased risk of dementia, strokes, depression, anxiety, and heart disease.

In the end social media can create an unhealthy environment for young teenagers. The negatives of it that were brought up can have dire consequences for those who are still young. It is important to be mindful of the dangers of social media. If you are a parent or guardian, monitor or talk to your child to make sure they are safe and doing fine. If you are a teenager or adolescent, report to your parents anything that may be causing stress after being on social media.

References
Annapolis Police Department. (n.d). Facts about Cyberbullying. https://www.annapolis.gov/908/Facts-About-Cyberbullying#:~:text=Nearly%2042%25%20of%20kids%20have,had%20their%20feelings%20hurt%20online.
Katella, Kathy. (2024, January 8). How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A parent’s Guide. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide
National Organization For Women (NOW). (2024). Love Your Body. https://now.org/now-foundation/love-your-body/love-your-body-whats-it-all-about/get-the-facts/
Coombs, Bertha. (2020, January 23). Loneliness is on the rise and younger workers and social media users feel it most, Cigna survey finds. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/23/loneliness-is-rising-younger-workers-and-social-media-users-feel-it-most.html#:~:text=Seven%20out%20of%2010%20heavy,from%2047%25%20a%20year%20ago.