According to the article “Social Media and Mental Health in Children and Teens” published by John Hopkins Medicine, nearly half of teens interviewed said they use the internet almost constantly, and 9 in 10 teens use social media daily.
This usage data tracks with many Nazareth students including Sophomore Ela Wiatr and Senior Arabella Elliot who both said they consistently scroll social media adding up to about 4 hours every day.
So, what effects are the hours on social media having on students’ well being? John Hopkins Medicine explains that social media can both benefit and harm people’s well being. Social media creates communities and support systems, but it is also linked to increased depression, anxiety, and loneliness, they say.
While these platforms are ideally meant to build connections with people, they are also raising serious concerns about mental health, especially among teens with teenage girls most vulnerable to negative online interactions and negative effects on self-esteem.
50 Nazareth students were surveyed about their social media use and their perceptions of how their mental health is affected. 47% of those surveyed said TikTok had the most negative effect on their mental health.
The good news is that these students are aware of the downsides, because 76% of those surveyed said they have voluntarily limited their use of social media.
Arabella Elliott sees the ups and downs of social media use. She said social media has helped her stay connected with friends and classmates especially when they’re all busy with different schedules. While thinking of the harm social media has done, she said there is a fear of missing out (FOMO) and she added, “I sometimes catch myself comparing my life to others.”
Elliot said, “social media can make FOMO worse because you’re constantly seeing what other people are doing, and it’s hard not to compare.”
Yale Medicine’s 2024 resource “How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide” backs up these findings. It states, “American teens ages 12-15, those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety.”
Short of deleting apps or quitting cold turkey, being aware of just how often you are on social media and adjusting your own habits is a good place to start. Some ways to help control your usage include self-regulating by setting screen time limits on your phone or finding a healthier alternative for your downtime: maybe a brain teasing game like the New York Times Connections or Mini Crossword could be satisfying in a more productive way.
