This story was originally published in the GenZeal feature of LNP on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
By Laila Smith ’26
Social media have become a part of everyday teenage life, powering the daily routine, relationships and entertainment of millions worldwide.
More than 9 in 10 teens say they use the internet at least daily, according to Pew Research Center. Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are more than just apps. They are places where many teens connect, explore who they are and put themselves out there.
However, while social media offer many positive and unpredictable opportunities for connections, creativity and much more, they also bring many negative challenges that can impact teens’ mental health, self-esteem and social life.
On a positive note, social media give teens a place to express themselves and find themselves. Many use it to share opinions and give life updates. These online spaces allow teens to build connections and communities with people who have similar interests and passions, regardless of physical location and distance. Social media can be helpful providing support and connections in many different ways.
“Social media can also be a way for young people to connect with others with shared interests and identities, which can be a lifeline for youth with marginalized or stigmatized identities such as LBGTQ+ youth or racial and religious minority youth,” said Mizuko Ito, a professor of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Irvine, in a 2021 interview with Gizmodo.
But beneath social media’s surface is a not-so-positive side. Studies show a strong connection between social media use and increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy among teens.
Constant exposure to filtered versions of other people’s lives creates many unrealistic standards of beauty, success and happiness. Many teens find themselves comparing their own lives to these portrayals in negative ways. This can lead to a negative mindset, self-doubt and low self-esteem.
Clinical psychologist Mary Ann McCabe, interviewed for a 2023 article by Kirsten Weir for the American Psychological Association, said she saw a flurry of new diagnoses of eating disorders in her teen patients and their friends.
“These kids often reported that they started watching something relatively benign, like exercise videos,” McCabe said.
But then their social media algorithms offered more and more material related to body image and weight.
“It was an echo chamber,” McCabe continued. “And several of my patients attributed eating disorders to this online behavior”
Cyberbullying is another dark side of social media. Hurtful comments, rumors and even harassment can spread quickly online, making the victim feel powerless and stressed.
Cyberbullying invades a teen’s personal space, making it feel difficult to escape, as if you’re trapped.
Pew Research Center found in 2018 that 59% of American teens had been bullied online, including being subjected to offensive name-calling (42%), false rumor (32%) and unsolicited receipt of explicit images (25%).
Additionally, 18% experienced physical threats and 7% of teen were victims of nonconsensual sharing of their explicit images.
Social media’s addictive nature can disrupt sleep, homework and in-person interactions. The fear of missing out drives teens to check their phones constantly, reducing the time spent on physical activities such as family time, physical exercise, school productivity and many other activities.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, recognizing that social media is as addictive as cigarettes, called for a warning label on the platforms and asked Congress to pass legislation that would “shield young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content that too often appears in algorithm-driven feeds.”
Given these challenges, it’s hard to ignore the harmful aspects of social media, especially for teens. While it’s true that how social media is used matters, the platforms are often made and designed in ways that encourage unhealthy behaviors and decisions.
The algorithms often show divisive, superficial or sensational content, leaving teens vulnerable to misinformation and pressure to meet unrealistic standards.
The reality is that social media’s structure and priorities are not aligned with what is best for teens, making it difficult to truly separate these resources from their negative impact.
To make meaningful changes, society needs to go beyond individual responsibility and demand accountability from these platforms for the harm they cause.
Social Media Apps are not Built in a Way that’s Healthy for Teens
This story was originally published in the GenZeal feature of LNP on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
By Laila Smith ’26
Social media have become a part of everyday teenage life, powering the daily routine, relationships and entertainment of millions worldwide.
More than 9 in 10 teens say they use the internet at least daily, according to Pew Research Center. Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are more than just apps. They are places where many teens connect, explore who they are and put themselves out there.
However, while social media offer many positive and unpredictable opportunities for connections, creativity and much more, they also bring many negative challenges that can impact teens’ mental health, self-esteem and social life.
On a positive note, social media give teens a place to express themselves and find themselves. Many use it to share opinions and give life updates. These online spaces allow teens to build connections and communities with people who have similar interests and passions, regardless of physical location and distance. Social media can be helpful providing support and connections in many different ways.
“Social media can also be a way for young people to connect with others with shared interests and identities, which can be a lifeline for youth with marginalized or stigmatized identities such as
LBGTQ+ youth or racial and religious minority youth,” said Mizuko Ito, a professor of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Irvine, in a 2021 interview with Gizmodo.
But beneath social media’s surface is a not-so-positive side. Studies show a strong connection between social media use and increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy among teens.
Constant exposure to filtered versions of other people’s lives creates many unrealistic standards of beauty, success and happiness. Many teens find themselves comparing their own lives to these portrayals in negative ways. This can lead to a negative mindset, self-doubt and low self-esteem.
Clinical psychologist Mary Ann McCabe, interviewed for a 2023 article by Kirsten Weir for the American Psychological Association, said she saw a flurry of new diagnoses of eating disorders in her teen patients and their friends.
“These kids often reported that they started watching something relatively benign, like exercise videos,” McCabe said.
But then their social media algorithms offered more and more material related to body image and weight.
“It was an echo chamber,” McCabe continued. “And several of my patients attributed eating disorders to this online behavior”
Cyberbullying is another dark side of social media. Hurtful comments, rumors and even harassment can spread quickly online, making the victim feel powerless and stressed.
Cyberbullying invades a teen’s personal space, making it feel difficult to escape, as if you’re trapped.
Pew Research Center found in 2018 that 59% of American teens had been bullied online, including being subjected to offensive name-calling (42%), false rumor (32%) and unsolicited receipt of explicit images (25%).
Additionally, 18% experienced physical threats and 7% of teen were victims of nonconsensual sharing of their explicit images.
Social media’s addictive nature can disrupt sleep, homework and in-person interactions. The fear of missing out drives teens to check their phones constantly, reducing the time spent on physical activities such as family time, physical exercise, school productivity and many other activities.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, recognizing that social media is as addictive as cigarettes, called for a warning label on the platforms and asked Congress to pass legislation that would “shield young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content that too often appears in algorithm-driven feeds.”
Given these challenges, it’s hard to ignore the harmful aspects of social media, especially for teens. While it’s true that how social media is used matters, the platforms are often made and designed in ways that encourage unhealthy behaviors and decisions.
The algorithms often show divisive, superficial or sensational content, leaving teens vulnerable to misinformation and pressure to meet unrealistic standards.
The reality is that social media’s structure and priorities are not aligned with what is best for teens, making it difficult to truly separate these resources from their negative impact.
To make meaningful changes, society needs to go beyond individual responsibility and demand accountability from these platforms for the harm they cause.
Sources:
Social Media – Pros & Cons – ProCon.org
Social media brings benefits and risks to teens. Psychology can help identify a path forward
Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 | Pew Research Center