Negative impact of social media on mental health of teens and pre-teens

By Meer Haq

Spending time on social media has now become a way of life for most adults — scrolling through videos of cuddly pandas, games or life hacks. But is it healthy for your children to have the same habits? And how does one know if they’re being safe on social media? Is social media good or bad? Social media provides valuable space for youth to self-identify – dissecting where they come from, what they value, and who they want to be. It allows young people to connect with others who share their interests, values, and experiences—often in ways that aren’t possible in their everyday lives.
While social media can oAer benefits such as enhanced connectivity, educational opportunities, and self-expression, it can also lead to negative eAects on mental health, distorted self-image, and reduced creativity. Nearly half of teens interviewed in a recent survey1 say they use the internet “almost constantly,” and 9 in 10 teens use social media daily. Though most social media platforms have a required minimum age of 13, almost 40% of children between the ages of 8 and 12 use social media. The impact of social media on mental health varies between pre-teens and teenagers. Preteens may benefit from social media as a tool for communication and connection, while teenagers, especially those with pre-existing mental health issues, may experience more negative eAects. The WHO’s study 2indicates that problematic social media use among adolescents is a significant concern, with rates increasing from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. This rise in problematic social media use raises urgent concerns about the impact of digital technology on the mental health and well-being of young people.
We will look at positive outcomes of using social media in youth, before dwelling into the dark side. In some ways, social media can benefit mental health. Many teens find a community online that helps them through diAicult times, breaking through barriers that would normally exist, such as distance or shyness in approaching others. In addition, many children and teens can find support using social media. For instance, many social media platforms encourage help-seeking behaviours, such as Initiate mental health care • Sharing ideas, otherwise too awkward to discuss, social support • BuAering eAect against stress and Learning from others’ negative experiences.
Experts are just beginning to understand social media’s impact on children. One study 3shows that children younger than 11 years old who use Instagram and Snapchat are more likely to have problematic digital behaviours like having online-only friends and visiting sites parents would disapprove of, as well as a greater chance of taking part in online harassment. Below we will look at some of many ways excessive or inappropriate use of social media can impact mental health of teens and preteens: Social isolation: Social media user children and teens spend less time connecting with friends and family in person compared with past generations. Instead, many use social media to connect, which can leave them feeling just as isolated. Online friendships often lack the physical presence and shared memories that strengthen bonds, making them feel less authentic.
Cyberbullying: Bullying which happens through technology, the internet and social media to harass, threaten or embarrass someone, is just as common. Harmful language, images and videos are prevalent, with 64% of teens reporting4 they’re often or sometimes exposed to hate-based content. Body image concerns: Too much time on social media apps can lead to an increase in body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and low self-esteem. While this is particularly concerning for teen girls, reports5 show that 46% of teens 13 to 17 years old said social media made them feel worse about their bodies.
Lack of sleep: Sleep deprivation is a common contributor to depression, and social media can have a notable impact on sleep. Scrolling on social media can lead to stress, which can make it hard to sleep. Additionally, people of every age can get stuck in a pattern where they only intend to look through social media for a few minutes and end up in it for more than an hour.
Intensified peer pressure: In youth, peer pressure is often more pronounced and can lead to a higher likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours. This is due to the desire for group acceptance and the desire to conform to peer norms. However, as individuals mature, the influence of peers tends to decrease, leading to a more cautious approach to risk-taking. Digital peer pressure often happens through screens, posts, and private messages that move quickly and feel hard to escape. Social media makes it easy for kids and teens to compare themselves to others, even when they are not trying to. Likes, views, comments, and followers count create a scoreboard feeling that can make social approval seem measurable.
Let’s discuss some strategies to develop a healthy and balanced relationship with use of social media. It is important for parents and children to build trusting relationship when it comes to using digital platforms. An open discussion about expectations can help pave the path to mutual trust. Some ideas are as follows: • Delay purchasing or providing a secondhand mobile phone/tablet/iPad to a child who is yet not ready to have the conversation about appropriate and permitted platform use. • Parental controls can be used to monitor time spent on each app and this information should be used in constructive way to agree future allowance. Parental controls also allow to set certain amount of time for social media apps. • Parents to present themselves as model by limiting use of mobile phones during family time, such as dinner table, enjoying a tv show together, a game or a nature walk. • Discuss appropriate boundaries and behaviours when interacting online. • Remember that people mostly only share their successes. Most people carefully create their profiles to show the best parts of their lives. But few people are living the idealised lives portrayed online. Recognising this fact allows one to be content with their current circumstances. • Teach teens and pre-teens how to adjust their privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see their posts and personal information. Encourage them to keep sensitive information private, such as their full name, address, and phone number.
On final note, we can agree that digital interaction around the globe will continue to become more normal or may be the only way of staying in touch, in future. We need to make informed and judicious choices to use this for our benefit.