The impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health

More teenagers are using social media every year, despite headlines and studies showing digital media use is having a negative impact on their mental health. A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that a strong majority of teenagers describe their social media usage as “almost constant.” The survey noted that the use of social media can help teenagers develop self-awareness about their limitations, rather than relying on things like curfews or other limits set by parents. YouTube is the dominant top platform that teenagers use, at 93%, followed by TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

The survey also indicated that site and app usage among teenagers has not changed much between 2022 and 2023. The percentage of teenagers using platforms like TikTok has remained stable over the years. Linda Charmaraman, a senior research scientist at the Wellesley Center for Women, explained that while there can be fun, excitement, connection, and acceptance on social media, there can also be negative aspects like FOMO, bullying, and comparison. Teenagers may turn to close contacts like cousins, aunts, uncles, or other relationships to help them process what they see online and understand how to protect themselves in a digital space.

There are both pros and cons to using social media, not just for teenagers but for all age groups. Charmaraman highlighted that different people experience social media differently depending on factors like maturity levels and friend groups. She also mentioned that while many studies focus on the correlation between social media use and mental health, they often do not delve deeply enough into the topic, and they mainly involve older youth like college students rather than teenagers. Teenagers and “tweens” have different cognitive capacities and developmental tasks, which can make the impact of social media on their lives more profound.