Social Media & Youth Mental Health: A Teen Perspective
In May, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. It said in part:
“While social media may offer some benefits, there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Social media use by young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of young people ages 13-17 reporting using a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.”
“With adolescence and childhood representing a critical stage in brain development that can make young people more vulnerable to harms from social media, the Surgeon General is issuing a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children.”
We are grateful to Teen Leader and member of Ceres’ Board of Directors Esther Luvishis (pictured here) for sharing her perspective on this important issue.
It’s hard to explain anxiety to people who have never struggled with it.
Don’t get me wrong, everyone gets nervous, whether it be public speaking, or going up to someone new: fear is a natural instinct. But there is a very big difference between just being nervous and waking up already heart pounding because you have a full day ahead of you, fearing the worst news every time someone calls you, and feeling exhausted constantly. And experiencing anxiety like this is not rare, as around 30% of adults in the US experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. This is also true for teens as 1 in 3 experience anxiety. And anxiety is just one type of mental health issue, while worldwide there are more than 200 types of mental illnesses. The most common are depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and anxiety.
In the past few years, the number of people, and especially teens, with mental health issues have steadily increased because of influences such as COVID, more demanding school, and overall life becoming more complicated. But one thing, that is directly correlated with this increase in anxiety and other mental health issues is the number of teenagers using social media. From Snapchat and Instagram, to TikTok and Twitter, conglomerates have taken the world by storm, with “up to 95% of teenagers and even 40% of children aged 8-12” on different platforms.(1)
Besides being a place to connect with friends and express oneself, social media has been found to have lasting negative effects on people in general, but especially on teens. Social media perpetuates images of perfection, fame, and success that aren't realistic but are used as measures of comparison. Teenagers spend on average 3.5 hours a day on social media, which is extremely concerning because evidence that those who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health. (1) Social media use also contributes to lower sleep quality with nearly one-in three adolescents reporting using screens (most commonly social media) until midnight or later.
Fortunately, there are things we can do. We as individuals have the power to help turn this mental health crisis around. Starting from parents and educators teaching their kids about the dangers of online use and having tech-free zones in our homes and communities, to policymakers working with tech companies to create better restrictions for children, there are actors on all levels working on this issue.
At Ceres Community Project, we are committed to helping with this issue. Hundreds of teens volunteer in our kitchens and gardens each year. They come from many different backgrounds, and each is unique in their own ways, but no matter who they are, we want them to be healthy.
At every shift, we ask teens to leave their cell phones at the door to create an environment where teens can separate from their devices. It’s important to be present, and to be able to connect with one another, and unfortunately phones act as a barrier for real human connection. Having a phone-free zone prompts teens to talk to others who they may never have gone up to before and gives them the opportunity to truly focus on a task without having something distract them.
Personally, I’ve always loved this rule, because of the effects it has. I’ve been in countless rooms where people are sitting less than 2 feet from one another, but everyone is glued to their own devices. In those situations, I found myself becoming increasingly attached to Instagram, using it as a crutch every time I had a few minutes to spare. Instead, at Ceres I have real conversations with other teens and with the amazing staff and mentors on shift with us. I’ve made friends and learned new skills.
Earlier this year, I made the decision to delete Instagram from my phone. This decision is not for everyone, but I knew for myself that the small square on my phone was draining my life and time. How much time are you or your kids spending on social media? What aren’t you NOT learning or doing because of that? And does the time you spend make you feel great? If not, consider taking some small steps to reduce your time.
Anxiety and other mental illnesses are real. But when daily pressure such as social media use are making them worse, we all need to take action. Here are some ideas:
https://hbr.org/2018/10/i-ran-4-experiments-to-break-my-social-media-addiction-heres-what-worked
https://www.healthline.com/health/social-media-addiction#decreasing-use
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health