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Media and Teens

April 26, 2019
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New research shows a link between social media and mental health of teens.  Teenagers gravitate to social media platforms to find community, but their mental health is adversely affected by this culture of social comparison.  According Katie Hurley, LCSW,  (Hurley, 2019), “Some studies show that online connections with small groups of people can be beneficial to teens, while other research points to a rise in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.”   There are distinct pros and cons to teenagers using social media. 

One study from the University of Pittsburgh found a “correlation between time spent scrolling through social media apps and negative body image feedback” and “those who had spent more time on social media had a 2.2 times the risk of reporting eating and body image concerns, compared to their peers who spent less time on social media.  The participants who spent the most time on social media had 2.6 times the risk” (Hurley, 2019).   

To keep things in proper perspective, teens must balance social media usage with real life friendships.

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