Is Social Media Causing the Youth Mental Health Crisis?
Mental health problems in young people are skyrocketing. A recent survey found that 57% of teenage girls report being consistently sad and 24% have made plans to take their own lives. Are social media sites to blame? Hundreds of lawsuits claim this is the case.
The City of New York has joined attorneys general in dozens of U.S. states and more than 200 school districts nationwide in filing lawsuits alleging that social media sites are responsible for the rising teen mental health epidemic.
The New York City filing in February 2024 names the firms that own Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat. The lawsuit attempts to compel these social media powerhouses to alter their operating models in addition to paying for the costs of youth mental health programs.
New York City, attorneys general in dozens of U.S. states, and hundreds of school districts nationwide have filed lawsuits alleging that social media sites are responsible for the teen mental health epidemic.
It remains to be seen how these lawsuits will play out. In the meantime, a growing body of research suggests that excessive social media use has negative consequences on mental health.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
In a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams suggested that social media platforms utilize methods that are driving a host of mental health disorders in children, adolescents, and teens. This echoes a March 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General detailing some of the potential dangers of social media. Indeed, multiple studies have found a link between social media usage and mental health issues. For example, a 2020 systematic review of 16 scientific papers found a connection between social media activity and anxiety and depression. Other findings have suggested a link between social media and mental health problems, such as:- Attention issues
- Depressive symptoms
- Anxiety disorders
- Insomnia
- Eating disorders
- Cyberbullying
- Addictive behavior
- Suicidal ideation
ADDICTIVE FEATURES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
In many of the lawsuits filed, plaintiffs point to several features used to drive excessive use of social media platforms. Some of these features are similar to those used in gambling or by tobacco companies to trigger compulsive usage. Drivers of social media addiction include algorithms that personalize content, infinite scrolling and autoplay, alerts to grab a person’s attention, and ephemeral content that disappears after a certain amount of time. These addictive features can affect people of all ages, however, adolescents with developing brains are more susceptible. In part, this is because the brain’s prefrontal cortex isn’t fully mature until a person’s mid-20s. The prefrontal cortex is involved in focus, planning, judgment, forethought, follow-through, impulse control, and more. This means that children and teens are more likely to be impulsive and to act without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Youngsters are also more vulnerable because they are at a point in their lives when they are involved in self-discovery and self-identity. Their desire for acceptance from their peers is especially high at this age.TIPS TO HELP KIDS AND TEENS USE SOCIAL MEDIA SAFELY
Although it remains unclear if the owners of social media platforms will be held accountable in U.S. courts for the rising mental health disorders in adolescents, there are things parents can do now to help. The following tips are some of the recommendations given to the parents of thousands of young patients at Amen Clinics. Putting these strategies into action can be a good first step in safeguarding your child or teen from social media addiction and its consequences.-
Strengthen their prefrontal cortex.
- Make sure youngsters get adequate sleep. A 2020 study in Pediatrics reports that screen time before bed is one of the common causes of sleep disorders in children and teens. The Sleep Foundation recommends that teens get 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
- Encourage adolescents to engage in high-intensity exercise to help boost blood flow to the brain.
- Meditation (or prayer) can also enhance activity and blood flow in this brain region.
- Feed them a healthy diet that includes some protein at every meal.
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Set social media limits.
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Be a good role model.




