Social media and mental health in children and adolescents

Many people, including children and teenagers, use social media for entertainment, news and connection with others. Nearly half of teens surveyed in a recent survey say they use the internet “almost constantly,” and 9 in 10 teens use social media daily. Although most social media platforms require a minimum age of 13, almost 40% of children between the ages of 8 and 12 use social media.

Some experts believe mental health problems could be an unexpected side effect of increased social media use. While the connection between the two is still being researched, it is becoming increasingly important to monitor the way children and young people use social media and its impact.

Carol Vidal, MD, Ph.D., MPH, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, and Jennifer Katzenstein, Ph.D., co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, talk about it The impact of social media on the mental health of children and young people is known.

How does social media affect the mental health of children and young people?

Positive effects of social media on children and young people

In some ways, social media can benefit mental health. For example, it provides access to information that may not be available elsewhere and provides a safe place to express oneself. Many teenagers find a community online that helps them through difficult times and overcomes barriers that would normally exist, such as: B. Distance or shyness in approaching others.

In addition, many children and young people find support via social media. For example, many social media platforms encourage help-seeking behaviors, such as:

• Help in establishing psychiatric care
• Validation of sexual identities
• Providing social support
• Provides a buffering effect against stress

“Social media can be used in beneficial ways,” says Vidal. “For example, many children and young people may find a community that is more accepting of their identity and identity than their immediate family or school environment. In this sense, social media can facilitate connection with peers who share the same interests, identities, and skills. Realistically, it’s also the way many young people communicate with each other these days.”

Negative effects of social media on children and young people

Despite the many benefits of social media, there are also downsides to excessive use. The United States Surgeon General released a social media advisory on social media and mental health in 2023. According to the report, there is evidence that social media has the potential to harm the mental health of children and young people. The recommendation suggests that frequent social media use may be linked to changes in parts of the brain related to emotions and learning. Additionally, it can affect impulse control, social behavior, emotional regulation, and sensitivity to social punishments and rewards.

There is also some connection between social media use and common mental health problems. One of the most common connections is between social media and depression. “Research has shown that there are high rates of depression with very low and very high social media use. This shows that there is a “sweet spot” for use for every child, which often depends specifically on their own developmental level and protective factors,” says Katzenstein.

Social media and depression in children and adolescents

Recent research suggests that those who spend more time on social media tend to experience more symptoms of depression. However, there may be several reasons for this connection.

• Social isolation: Compared to previous generations, today’s children and young people spend less time in personal contact with friends and family. Instead, many turn to social media to socialize, which can leave them feeling just as isolated. Online social interactions may not be as rewarding. Social media can also make some feel left out or missing out when they see others engaging in activities and social interactions.
• Lack of healthy activities: Time spent on social media can lead to a lack of healthy activities. Physical activity and time outdoors help release endorphins, which can help relieve symptoms of depression. They can also provide a sense of achievement and self-confidence.
• Lack of sleep: Research shows that lack of sleep is a common cause of depression and that social media can have a significant impact on sleep. Scrolling social media can cause stress, which can make it difficult to fall asleep. Additionally, people of all ages can get stuck in a pattern where they only want to browse social media for a few minutes and end up staying on it for more than an hour. Combine these habits with the blue light from electronic screens, which disrupts sleep patterns, and it’s easy to see how using social media before bed can lead to sleep deprivation.

“Depression is complex and has many risk factors, including genetics, aspects of the environment and personal experiences that are not so directly related to social media usage patterns,” says Vidal. “Research shows that those who are more depressed tend to use social media more, and vice versa. However, it is not clear whether social media use is the cause of depression.”

“However,” Vidal continues, “excessive use of social media is associated with behaviors such as poor sleep, increased social comparisons, impact on learning, and exposure to cyberbullying and negative content, which could contribute to worsening depressive symptoms.”

Additionally, depression and suicidality have increased as the number of people on social media and the number of social media platforms have increased. Katzenstein reminds us that this is correlational, not causal, but cannot be overlooked as a factor in adolescent and teen mental health.

Teaching children and teens to have a healthy relationship with social media

Parents can work with their children to develop healthy digital habits and encourage moderate usage. Discussing the negative effects with children and young people to raise awareness can help manage the effects. Parents (as well as health care providers and schools) may want to suggest the following strategies:

• Take regular breaks from digital devices.
• Turn off notifications.
• Set up phone-free times and rooms.
• Discuss appropriate boundaries and behaviors when interacting online.

Parents can help by modeling these behaviors in their own social media use. Children and young people are more likely to imitate what they see than what they are told. Promoting a healthy relationship with social media in parents’ lives can lead to healthier habits for the entire family.

“Learning a healthy relationship with social media is just as important as learning a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and coffee consumption,” explains Vidal. “Delaying the purchase of a smartphone until the child is ready is a good first step. But it’s also important to teach children healthy habits around screen use, as technology – and especially social media – will be present throughout their lives.”

Katzenstein explains, “As parents, it is important for us to model healthy social media use and discuss civic behavior on social media with our children to ensure we don’t post anything that we wouldn’t share directly with someone in the real world “would say.”