How Does Social Media Affect Teens’ Mental Health​?

Did you know that teens who use social media for more than three hours a day are more likely to get diagnosed with anxiety and depression?

Access to smartphones and an internet connection is considered to be a ‘need of the hour’, and teens are using it for various other reasons apart from making their studies easier. In fact, teens are considered to be constantly active on social media, consuming all kinds of content. 

The perpetual presence of teens on social media exposes them to various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, addiction to the screen and a never-ending obsession with knowing everything at all times. 

In this article, we shall talk about how social media affects teens’ mental health and what can be done about it.

Social Media And Teen Mental Health​

Teens are constantly connected to the world on social media. They keep getting information about the happenings in other people’s lives through it, which tends to make them fall into the trap of depression and anxiety.

When these teens watch ‘influencers’ living a better life than they are, they end up comparing their lives with theirs. This is when a sense of inferiority complex creeps into them, making them feel less valued. 

Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health​

Teens going through varied physical and psychological changes tend to feel rejection in numerous social settings. This elevates their stress hormones and trains hypervigilance, increasing rumination. At times, it can lead to suicidal thoughts as well. 

Social media impacts the mental health of teens in various ways. Some of them are as follows:

Develops a Sense of Inferiority Complex in Them

Individuals go through several physical changes during their teens. This is when their bodies change in size and develop. Highly curated and photoshopped images of influencers on social media tend to make them feel insecure and less valued. As their self-esteem goes down, the chances of them falling into the trap of negative thoughts and depression increase. 

Become Victims of Cyber Bullying

Cyberbullying refers to harassment that happens online! It includes body shaming, negative comments, trolling, and doxxing. In fact, negative comments tend to impact teenagers extensively as they are already undergoing a massive psychological change, and the trolling makes them feel anxious and lonely, leading to triggering them. 

Teen Mental Health And Social Media​

It is a proven fact that social media causes anxiety and depression. It gives rise to social comparison, cyberbullying and sleep disruption. Addiction to the screen, the need for constant validation and online trolling are some manifestations of teen mental health issues caused by social media. 

Three Ways Social Media Affects The Mental Health Of Teens​

To minimize the impact of social media on teens’ mental health, here is what can be done.

• Parents must realize their responsibility and limit the usage of smartphones for their teen kids. Also, restricted access to social media and controlled usage would be greatly helpful in keeping a check on the teens. 

• Moms and dads also need to keep asking their kids various questions regarding their online experience. They must share the latest controversial or otherwise famous pieces of news and then comment to understand their viewpoints. 

• Motivating teens to consume creative content over shallow channels is also a great way of helping them live a balanced diet, rather than following the TikTok accounts that set wrong standards of beauty and promote body image issues. 

Defeating Mental Health Issues Caused By Social Media

It’s definitely possible to defeat mental health issues caused by social media, and if you can’t do it alone, head over to Saalvio therapy for teens help. Social media and teen mental health​ are connected, and Saalvio understands how to help you manage them both effectively.