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With teenage mental health problems on the rise over the past decade, it’s normal for parents to wonder if social media is partly to blame. Although social media can be a helpful tool to connect socially, be creative and learn new information, it’s also a way for teens to escape from reality. For teens, communication has become less face to face, and more via digital interactions through Instagram posts, Snapchats and Tik Tok videos.
There is growing awareness of the negative effects of social media on the developing teenage brain. Social media can impact self-esteem, identity development, anxiety and more.
In 2023, the US surgeon general even released an advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, where he states there is growing research that social media is causing harm to teen mental health.
The Impact of Social Media on Teens
Teenagers are now growing up in a new world of technology, with easier access than ever to smartphones and social media platforms. Social media can keep teens connected and act as a place where they can express themselves. However, it also comes with negative effects and can lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
The teenage brain is in a sensitive stage. Parts of the frontal lobe are still developing. This plays a role in reward-processing, focus, and impulse control. Frequent social media use is associated with changes in this region making teens more sensitive to social rewards, heightened emotional reactivity and difficulty concentrating.
Teens are also going through their formative years of identity development as they explore their self-worth and independence. If their social media is constantly flooded with posts that do not reflect reality such as seeing edited photos or famous influencers, this can skew their perception of themselves and the world around them.
When Does Social Media Become A Problem?
Social media is not inherently bad. Some teens use it to talk with their friends, make creative videos, learn new hobbies and stay up to date with trends. However, it becomes a problem when it starts to impact their daily functioning. Some signs in their teens for parents to recognize when social media has become a problem include:
- Acting distressed after spending time online
- Constantly checking their phones
- Low self-esteem or negative self body image
- Sleep deprivation
- Disordered eating
- Significant shifts in mood
- Sudden decrease in school performance
- Isolation from friends and family
- Secretive behavior or refusing to talk about their online interactions
Negative Effects of Social Media on High School Students
Social media plays a particularly important role in the lives of high school students with 95% of teens ages 13-17 reporting using social media. And a third say they use it “constantly”. Interacting and socializing with their peers is a normal part of being in high school. Social media has made this more possible than ever. Teens can easily communicate through a variety of platforms and get immediate responses, feedback and instant messages.
Research has found that excessive social media use can cause similar chemical responses in the brain as are caused by substance abuse. Frequent use of social media releases dopamine, the chemical in the brain associated with pleasure, reward processing and forming habits.
Similar to drugs, as the use of social media increases, the more engagement a user craves. This begins a reward cycle that can be hard to break without intervention from parents.
This constant stimulation of social media can make it harder for highschoolers to concentrate and learn, leading to a decline in academic performance.
Social Media Use in Teens: A Guide For Parents
Although any teen has the potential to develop a problem with social media, there are a few risk factors that may heighten the risk:
- Increased stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- An impulsive personality
- Isolation
If you are concerned your teen is spending too much time on social media and it is impacting their health, there are some ways to set healthy boundaries, while still respecting your teen’s privacy and independence. Some limits that a parent could consider include:
- Set time limits on your teen’s smartphone use
- Use parental settings on social media platforms to set restrictions
- Speak to your teen about the negative impact of social media
- Provide your teen with context that not everything they see on social media reflects reality
- Restrict screen time 1-2 hours before bedtime
- Have them turn off notifications so they are not constantly checking their phones
- Set times as a family where you go “phone-free” to model healthy habits
When To Seek Professional Help
If you identify warning signs of a mental health problem in your teen, reach out for professional support to help find the best plan of treatment.
At Clearfork Academy our team of compassionate, licensed therapists understands the complex nature of teens. Reach out to our Admissions team to learn more.
Sources
Social Media and Youth Mental Health. The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory.
Mike grew up on a dairy farm in Parker County, Texas. At the age of 59, he went back to college and graduated 41 years after his first graduation from Weatherford College. God placed on his heart at that time the passion to begin to help others as they walked from addictions, alcoholism, and abuse of substances. He is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and in the past few years he has worn many hats, from intake and assessment, group counseling, individual and family counseling, intensive outpatient and now he is working with clients, therapist, and families on discharge planning and aftercare. He also coordinates our Alumni Outreach Program.
