Social media is a near-constant presence in the lives of many teenagers in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, 97% say they use the internet daily (with 46% reporting “almost constant” usage), and among the top five social media platforms, 35% of teens say they are on at least one of those platforms “almost constantly.”^{(See disclaimer 1)} 

This raises important questions such as, What are the pros and cons of social media usage among teenagers? Does social media impact the mental, behavioral and social health of teenagers? If so, how? Is teen social media use helpful or harmful?

The reality seems to be a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no answer as to whether teen social media use is helpful or harmful. Instead, it’s important to consider the nuances of the situation. Take a closer look at the pros and cons of social media for teens.

First, consider the potential benefits of social media use for teens, such as providing more opportunities to build friendships and cultivate social support.^{(See disclaimer 2)} 

For teens, social media can:

• Make them feel as though they aren’t alone.
• Facilitate connections with friends and family.
• Enable them to meet new people with the same interests.
• Allow them to seek support from others.

Building Connections and Receiving Community Support

According to Mental Health America, some teens say that social media helps them by facilitating connections with friends who live far away. Some teens feel like social media offers them a connection to something that is larger than themselves.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Social media can allow people to feel like they fit in with a group of people. It can also decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness, while increasing the ability to connect with others over shared interests and views.^{(See disclaimer 3)} When looking at the potential benefits of social media, it is necessary to draw a line between teens who are actively engaged online and those who are passively browsing.

In a research study from Oxford Academic, it is suggested that social media's impact on mental health depends largely on how it is used. Active engagement, such as posting content and interacting with others, is associated with greater social support and well-being, whereas passive use, such as scrolling through others' posts without interacting, is more often associated with negative emotional outcomes. Studies have also found that social comparison and envy can help explain the relationship between passive social media use and depressive symptoms.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Access to Information and Educational Resources

Social media may, in some cases, be educational for teens. It enables them to access information from anywhere. Teens may decide to follow experts in a field of study they’re interested in, in possible preparation for choosing a career path. 

It’s important to weigh the benefits of access to information against the downsides of exposure to disinformation, however. Teens need strong media literacy skills to differentiate between the two.

Creative Expression and Personal Development

Another potential benefit of social media for teens is the opportunity to engage in self-expression. Teens who are passionate about music, fine art or theater might post about these topics, for example. Social media may allow teens to feel as though they have a voice.

When considering the pros and cons of social media, it’s important to consider the potential for cyberbullying and online harassment, along with other drawbacks.

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

Bullying is nothing new for teens, but social media provides another avenue for it — one not limited to school property. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of teens in the U.S. from 13 to 17 years old reported experiencing cyberbullying. They have been called offensive names, had false rumors spread about them and have experienced cyberstalking incidents.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Social Comparison and Self-Esteem Challenges

Social media envy is potentially harmful for teens. It occurs when a social media user perceives another user’s life as being “perfect” due to their posts. Users on social media platforms do not see a complete depiction of the lives of other users.

A typical social media user will upload posts about fun vacations, accomplishments and other positive parts of their life. However, they tend not to post about negative things going on in their life. When a teenager passively looks at these apparently perfect lives, they may feel inadequate in comparison.

Privacy and Security Risks

Even the most technologically savvy teenager might not think too carefully about oversharing personal information online. They might discuss where they’re going with friends later that day, for example, or post pictures of themselves. This can create potential privacy and security risks.

Screen Time and Digital Dependency

Many teens spend a great deal of time online. The Pew Research Center points out that of teens who use Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, 35% of them say they use at least one of those platforms “almost constantly.”^{(See disclaimer 1)} This creates concerns about potential digital dependency, which refers to the compulsive and excessive use of digital devices in a way that disrupts daily life.

When examining the effects of social media use, it’s worth taking a look at the pros and cons of social media on mental health.

Positive Effects on Emotional Support

Social media may enable teens to find emotional support when it’s needed most. It connects them to friends and family regardless of geographic location. This may help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness. In fact, according to Mental Health America, teens who view social media as a positive influence typically cite how these platforms help them stay in touch with others.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Negative Effects on Anxiety, Depression and Stress

Despite the potential for providing access to emotional support, social media also has the potential to inflict harm on teens’ mental health. A study in Clinical Psychological Science looked at the social media and electronic device usage among teenagers and compared it to the rate of teen suicide between 2010 and 2015. The researchers discovered that 48% of teenagers who spend at least five hours per day on electronic devices have at least one risk factor of suicide. Only 33% of teens who spend two hours per day online had at least one risk factor.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

However, it is important to note that this data is inconclusive. There is a correlation between social media use and depression or suicide, but this does not mean that social media use is the cause. It is possible that teens who are prone to depression and suicidal ideation are more likely to go on social media for many hours per day.^{(See disclaimer 7)}

When considering why social media is harmful for teens, it’s important to explore both sides of the equation. That is, instead of looking solely at how teens may be affected by social media use, you might also consider how the platforms themselves may be pushing a certain narrative on young users.

According to NPR, in 2021, Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, testified in Congress regarding internal company documents allegedly demonstrating that Facebook (a parent company, now named Meta) knew that Instagram could pose mental health risks for children and teens. Among the leaked documents was a study conducted by Facebook showing that 13.5% of girls in the U.K. said that Instagram usage worsened their suicidal thoughts, while another study demonstrated that 17% of teen girls experienced worsening of their eating disorders after using Instagram.^{(See disclaimer 8)}

Teen girls, in particular, may be more likely than teen boys to succumb to a harmful cycle of seeking validation on social media in a way that leads them to compare themselves to unrealistic standards. This, in turn, can worsen mental health.^{(See disclaimer 8)}

There are a number of steps teens can take to use social media in a way that emphasizes its potential benefits while protecting teens from potential harm.

Setting Healthy Boundaries and Screen Time Limits

Therapists who study social media psychology can help teenagers struggling with social media usage by encouraging them to minimize their time spent online. Replacing time spent online with real-life activities can help teenagers improve their ability to build healthy relationships and enjoy healthy interactions with people in offline settings.

It may be helpful to encourage teens to set limits, such as by establishing a certain window of time each day or week for social media usage. Teens may also turn off notifications on the apps so that they aren’t as tempted to log on frequently.

In some cases, young people may benefit from speaking with a mental health counselor or therapist. This can be particularly beneficial if they’re having trouble reducing or eliminating social media use on their own.

Protecting Privacy and Personal Information

Teens should be aware of the need to protect their personal information and privacy online. They should change their profile settings to allow only friends to see what they post. It’s important to limit what they post as well, avoiding providing any identifying information.

Additionally, teens should turn off location-sharing features and only accept friend requests from people they know (while being aware of the potential for impostors to imitate friends).

Creating a Positive Online Experience

Teens can curate their own social media experience, such as by following supportive online communities and other positive influences, as well as connecting with supportive friends. They can mute or block accounts that give rise to anxiety or other negative feelings.

Parents and others can help teens stay safe online and use social media in a healthy way. It starts with recognizing the warning signs of unhealthy usage.

Recognizing Warning Signs of Unhealthy Use

According to Healthline, some of the most common manifestations of addictive behavior among social media users include:^{(See disclaimer 9)}

• Preoccupation with social media, even when not currently using it
• Using social media to cope with negative problems or regulate mood
• Feeling angry when attempts to reduce social media usage are made
• Experiencing negative impacts on schoolwork and grades due to social media overuse

Teens who struggle with social media addiction may experience a number of negative effects, including:^{(See disclaimer 9)}

• Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Low self-esteem
• Sleep loss
• Anxiety (including social anxiety disorder) and depression
• Suppressed ability to empathize with others

Encouraging Responsible Digital Habits

Parents and other caregivers can try to maintain open communication with teens, encouraging them to express their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Parents can ask open-ended questions about the type of content their teen enjoys online and how social media use makes them feel.

Parents should also teach teens about cyberbullying and the importance of kindness, even when they aren’t face-to-face with a person. Digital literacy skills are also important, such as teaching teens how to evaluate a source of information, how to fact-check and how to identify disinformation.

Parents can discuss setting boundaries with their teens, such as by limiting screen usage. Modeling good habits is also important. Parents should set their phones aside during dinner and any other family togetherness time.

If you feel called to help children, teens or adults work through obstacles to their mental and social health, consider enrolling at GCU. Choose from a broad range of psychology and counseling degrees, such as the Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse degree program.