Social media use linked to rise in mental health problems among teens, study finds

In a paper published in Nature Reviews Psychology, researchers from Germany and the UK describe the mechanisms through which social media may influence behavioral, cognitive and neurobiological changes in adolescents, which in turn increases vulnerability to mental illness.

Adolescence is associated with a variety of behavioral, cognitive and neurobiological changes that help adolescents emerge from family dependence and establish themselves as independent individuals in society.

These evolving changes may potentially increase adolescents' vulnerability to a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating and mood disorders.

Social media use among teenagers has increased exponentially in recent years. Recent estimates show that 95% of 15-year-olds in the UK use social media, while 50% of US teens aged 13-17 report being online constantly.

Growing evidence indicates that social media may potentially influence developmental changes in adolescents and place them in a vulnerable position for developing a variety of mental health disorders.

Behavioral Mechanisms Linking Social Media Use to Adolescent Mental Health The authors focused on two behavioral mechanisms that may influence the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.

Risk behavior in publications

Adolescents often engage in riskier behaviors than adults due to uncontrollable desires to seek new experiences and a lack of self-regulation abilities. Adolescent risk-taking behavior is known to increase their risk of developing mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse.

Extreme social media posts, such as alcohol-related posts, receive more likes from their audience, which in turn encourages riskier behavior from users who expect more likes from their audience.

Studies examining the relationship between online and offline risky behavior find a positive association between teens' social media use and their engagement in behaviors that may expose them to harm or risk of injury.

Teenagers generally underestimate the risks of publishing compromising information on social networks. Such posts may be screenshotted and widely shared among a diverse audience, which may subsequently increase their risk of experiencing cyberbullying, online bullying and victimization.

Self-presentation and identity

Adolescence is characterized by an abundance of self-presentation activities on social networks. Teens often reveal, hide, and change their real selves on social media to create the desired impression for their audience.

People receive more direct and public feedback on their self-presentation on social networks than in an offline environment, which provides them with more opportunities to shape their identity. Existing research has found a link between increased social media use and long-term declines in self-esteem clarity.

On the other hand, social media can help teens explore different aspects of their identity, such as race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Emerging evidence suggests that transgender people experience positive experiences by disclosing their identity on supportive social platforms.

Cognitive Mechanisms Linking Social Media Use to Adolescent Mental Health The authors focused on four cognitive mechanisms that may influence the effects of social media on adolescent mental health.

Developing self-awareness

Self-awareness, defined as a person's beliefs and evaluations about their qualities and traits, can be influenced by socio-emotional processes such as self-esteem and social feedback. Negative self-concept may increase the risk of adverse mental health conditions.

The ability to personalize content can significantly increase the impact of social networks on the development of self-awareness during adolescence. Teens who spend a lot of time on social media have been found to develop negative self-concepts.

Social comparison

The development of self-awareness can be influenced by social comparison, especially during adolescence. Receiving personalized content on a topic of interest may encourage teens to compare themselves to the people depicted in the content. In addition, the number of likes and reactions to self-presentation posts on social networks can influence users' perception of social rank.

Such social comparisons, especially those related to body image, can negatively impact adolescents' mental health and increase the risk of developing socio-emotional and eating disorders.

Social feedback

A high desire for socialization with peers and a fear of social rejection are two pronounced characteristics in the life of a teenager. Existing evidence indicates that excessive sensitivity to social rejection is moderately associated with depression and anxiety.

Teens already experiencing peer bullying have been found to develop severe symptoms of depression due to a lack of online peer approval.

Social inclusion and exclusion

Social inclusion or acceptance online has a protective effect against emotional disorders in adolescents. While online social exclusion is associated with low self-esteem and negative emotions.

Teens who don't receive the attention or feedback they want on social media are more likely to develop a reduced sense of belonging, significance, self-esteem, and control.

Neurobiological mechanisms linking social media use to adolescent mental health

Overall, this comprehensive study highlights the multifaceted impact of social media on adolescent mental health, not only through direct exposure, but also by exacerbating internal developing vulnerabilities during this critical period. While social media offers unprecedented opportunities for self-expression and social interaction, it also poses unique challenges due to adolescents' heightened sensitivity to social feedback and the complex interplay of their rapidly evolving neurobiological, cognitive, and behavioral landscapes.

Future research should explore more deeply the subtle ways social media interacts with evolving mechanisms to better protect adolescent well-being in the digital age. By focusing on the specific affordances of digital platforms and their potential to influence behavior and brain development in adolescents, researchers can help formulate targeted interventions that reduce harm and enhance the positive aspects of social media use. These efforts require policymakers, educators, parents and teens to work together to develop policies that recognize the profound impact of the digital environment on young minds.

Finally, as we navigate this ever-changing digital landscape, it is critical to create an environment in which teens can thrive both online and offline. Understanding the impact of social media on mental health is just the first step to reducing risks and increasing the resilience of future generations.