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According to a data report from Global Digital Insights, over 5 billion people worldwide are active on social media and spend an average of around 2.5 hours each day scrolling through feeds, watching content, and interacting with others online.
Teens, in particular, spend even more time on social media, averaging around 4.8 hours per day. Although social media can help teens connect with friends, learn new information, and express themselves, it can also increase the risks of teenage mental health problems and lower self-esteem [1].
Read on to understand the rates of social media use in teens, how it affects their self-esteem and strategies for parents to support their teens in building healthy social media habits.
Rates of Social Media Use in Teens
In 2023, the US Surgeon General released an advisory stating that emerging research shows social media platforms negatively impact youth mental health. Some of the most common platforms that play a significant role in today’s teens include Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and NGL [2].
Below are some key statistics to understand the impact that social media plays in the lives of teens [2][3]:
- 95% of teens ages 13 to 17 use social media daily
- One-third of these teens report using social media “almost constantly”
- 40% of children ages 8 to 12 actively use social media
- Teen boys spend an average of 4.5 hours on social media per day
- Teen girls spend an average of 5 hours on social media per day
- The risk of depression increases by 13% for each additional hour of social media use
Is Social Media Addictive?
Social media addiction is a type of behavioral addiction defined as compulsive social media use that disrupts a teen’s daily functioning—impacting their relationships, academic performance, mental and physical health. It causes similar reactions in the pleasure-reward system of the brain as substance abuse.
Every time a teen interacts with posts, receives a direct message, or gets a notification, small amounts of dopamine are released in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and plays a role in habit development and motivation. Similar to how drugs work in the brain, the more engagement a teen has on social media, the more they crave it [4].
When Does Social Media Use Become An Issue?
It’s important to recognize if your teen’s social media use becomes excessive and is impacting other areas of their life. Some of the warning signs that a teen’s social media use has become a problem include:
- Spends excessive time on social media
- Posts everything they do on Instagram reels, Snap stories, or TikTok
- Constantly checks their feeds in class, at the dinner table, or in other settings where it’s not appropriate
- Unable to put their phones down
- Visibly stressed after they spend time on social media
- Acting secretive about their digital behavior
- Low self-esteem
- Problems concentrating
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or aggression when they can’t find or access their phone
- Academic decline
Does Social Media Lower Self-Esteem in Teens?
Social media use can cause long-term effects on the developing teen brain, influencing their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behavior. Studies show that excessive social media use is linked to lower self-esteem and higher rates of mental health problems [2].
There is significant and growing research on the role social media has played in the increase of mental health problems among teens today. Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, documents the sharp rise in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among teens since the early 2010s, when smartphones became ubiquitous and social media quickly grew in popularity among youth [5].
Social media can skew teens’ perception of reality and themselves, with platforms only showing the best part of a user’s life. Teens who constantly see tailored posts from influencers, content creators, and celebrities may set unrealistic expectations of themselves—increasing feelings of depression or performance anxiety. Edited photos or selfies from Instagram models may lower self-esteem in vulnerable teens (particularly teenage girls) who already struggle with a negative self-image.
How Can You Support Healthy Digital Practices in Your Teen
Although it’s important to respect the independence and privacy of your teen, if you are concerned social media is impacting their mental health and self-esteem, there are some ways to set healthy limits.
Some strategies to promote healthy digital practices and social media use in your teen include:
- Set limits on their screen time. Most experts recommend absolutely no more than 2 hours per day.
- Haidt recommends no smartphones before high school and no social media before age 16 (although this can be challenging to implement) [5].
- Understand what kind of content your teen is consuming. Consider asking them to show you some of their favorite accounts, influencers, YouTubers, or memes.
- Educate your teens with context about what they see on social media, explaining to them not everything they view reflects reality or is authentic.
- Encourage your teen to consume content and follow creators that are beneficial to their personal growth.
- Limit violent or negative content using parental settings.
- Have them set their phones on Do Not Disturb, during dinner or family events, for example.
- Spend days as a family where you go “tech-free” and turn off your phones.
Teen Mental Health Treatment Available in Texas
At Clearfork Academy, our team of licensed mental health professionals understands the complex nature of how social media can influence mental health problems in teens. We offer comprehensive treatments to help teens build coping skills that increase their long-term recovery.
Contact our admissions team today to see how we can support your teen.
Sources
[1] Global Social Media Statistics. 2025. DataReportal.com
[2] Social Media and Youth Mental Health. 2023. US Surgeon General Advisory.
[3] Time Spent on Social Media and Risk of Depression in Adolescents: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis. 2022. National Library of Medicine.
[4] Research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media use: A bibliometric analysis. 2022. National Library of Medicine. [5] Haidt, J. 2024. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. New York: Penguin Press.
Founder & CEO
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
