A Closer Look at Social Media and Its Effect on Adolescent Mental Health

Social media has been on the rise. Applications like Facebook, Twitter or X, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are digital landscapes where teens can connect with one another from all over the globe.

While social media has a lot of benefits for users to connect with like-minded individuals, space to be creative, and to define and share moments of their lives, some negatives come along with it, especially in regards to the mental health of teenagers.

Research has shown that while social media isn’t characteristically harmful, it can contribute to issues like anxiety, depression, body image struggles, and cyberbullying, to name a few. Here’s a closer look at social media and its effect on an adolescent’s mental health.

Low Self-Esteem

The teenage years aren’t easy ones. Teens are going through several different changes internally and externally. They’re having to balance the added schoolwork, extracurricular activities, their social dynamic, and bodily and developmental changes that come along with the teen years.

Social media can cause added challenges and further decline a teen’s already lowered self-esteem. The basis of social media involves liking, commenting, and sharing different posts. This can lead to playing the comparison game when a post doesn’t receive the same response as one of their peers.

The Comparison Game

The comparison game is a hard one to avoid with social media. Teenagers can find themselves comparing themselves to their friends, family members, and even people they don’t actually know, like influencers or celebrities. Seeing everyone’s highlight reels and “perfect” lives can make them feel like they aren’t good enough. Plus, filtered and heavily edited photos and videos can be hard to differentiate between what’s real and fake. This can lead to feelings of poor body image, inadequacy, and jealousy.

Cyberbullying

Boundaries are an essential aspect of all types of healthy relationships. People who are involved with narcissists tend to have little to no boundaries, mostly because narcissistic partners won’t accept or respect their partners’ boundaries. Narcissistic partners will even go as far as doing things that you’ve asked them not to do or disrespecting your privacy.

Sleeping Problems

Even though it may feel like you’re alone, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to go through this experience all on your own. There’s a good chance that you have a supportive family member or friend who is willing to help you. Let your loved ones know what type of support you’re looking for so they can show up in the best way.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know about this matter, consider joining a support group. Groups are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals who can help you feel a little less alone in all of this.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

The constant posts of a person’s day-to-day life can be a fun way to engage with friends. But these posts can also leave teens feeling like they’re missing out. Seeing posts where they’re not included can cause them to feel like they’re missing out or experience feelings of anxiety or loneliness. The posts can cause them to feel extremely lonely, isolated, or dissatisfied with their own life.

Next Steps

It’s important to note that while social media has its risks, there are many benefits to the platforms as well. There is a need for education and a balance of social media usage for both parents and teenagers. Everything is fine in moderation, right? Social media is a great way for people to connect and express themselves, but some risks shouldn’t be ignored, especially when it comes to your teen’s mental health. Need extra help finding that balance? Book  teen therapy consultation today.