Teens, this is for you. I know you’re not going to like what I have to say, but we all know it is something that needs to be said. There is more evidence to prove that social media impacts people negatively more than positively, especially the most at-risk people – teenagers.
One in three teen girls have reported that they’ve seriously considered committing suicide after the use of social media (CNN Health). The suicide rate of both males and females from ages 10-24 has skyrocketed, increasing 60% from 2011-2021 (ABC News). Why is that? What major things have happened within the last 10-13 years?
Many experts point to social media as the cause. “Our children have become unknowing participants in a decades-long experiment. And while there is more we have to learn about the full impact of social media on their mental health and well-being, we know enough to take action and protect our kids,” said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in an ABC News interview.
Social media deeply impacts depression. 50% of teen girls and 29% of teen boys said social media use makes them feel sad and/or hopeless (CNN Health). A lot of this comes because of comparison. “A lot of teenagers who are still getting used to their growing bodies are comparing themselves, feeling inadequate because of what they are seeing on social media,” said Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School.
Why are we letting ourselves, family, and friends be sexualized, bullied, brainwashed, and misinformed? We all know social media is an issue, whether we want to admit it or not. Social media CEOs don’t even let their kids on the platforms that they own (NBOME). They know how much damage it can cause. It is said that adolescents who spend more than three hours on social media per day have double the risk of mental health issues, like depression or suicidal ideations (NBOME). And the majority of us spend at least three hours a day on our socials.
As young adults, there are so many things that we have no control over, but taking care of our mental health is something we can do. Taking time to make sure we are mentally healthy, and setting boundaries within our social media use is going to be key to success and growth.
Social Media Has a Negative Impact on Mental Health
By Natalie Herr ‘25
Teens, this is for you. I know you’re not going to like what I have to say, but we all know it is something that needs to be said. There is more evidence to prove that social media impacts people negatively more than positively, especially the most at-risk people – teenagers.
One in three teen girls have reported that they’ve seriously considered committing suicide after the use of social media (CNN Health). The suicide rate of both males and females from ages 10-24 has skyrocketed, increasing 60% from 2011-2021 (ABC News). Why is that? What major things have happened within the last 10-13 years?
Many experts point to social media as the cause. “Our children have become unknowing participants in a decades-long experiment. And while there is more we have to learn about the full impact of social media on their mental health and well-being, we know enough to take action and protect our kids,” said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in an ABC News interview.
Social media deeply impacts depression. 50% of teen girls and 29% of teen boys said social media use makes them feel sad and/or hopeless (CNN Health). A lot of this comes because of comparison. “A lot of teenagers who are still getting used to their growing bodies are comparing themselves, feeling inadequate because of what they are seeing on social media,” said Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School.
Why are we letting ourselves, family, and friends be sexualized, bullied, brainwashed, and misinformed? We all know social media is an issue, whether we want to admit it or not. Social media CEOs don’t even let their kids on the platforms that they own (NBOME). They know how much damage it can cause. It is said that adolescents who spend more than three hours on social media per day have double the risk of mental health issues, like depression or suicidal ideations (NBOME). And the majority of us spend at least three hours a day on our socials.
As young adults, there are so many things that we have no control over, but taking care of our mental health is something we can do. Taking time to make sure we are mentally healthy, and setting boundaries within our social media use is going to be key to success and growth.
Sources
This is your brain on social media
The Value & Impact of Social media on Mental Health
Amid what’s being called a youth mental health crisis, is social media facing its own ‘tobacco moment’?