According to a surgeon general who is also a mental health awareness campaigner, Vivek Murthy, one of the leading contributors to anxiety, depression, and other teenage issues is social media. In a report, the surgeon called for attention to the growing effects of social media on mental health. He urged companies and other policymakers to advise parents on managing their teenagers' social media use. This article will deeply look at the impact of social media use in causing anxiety among teens.

Statistics on Teens Addiction to Social Media

According to the Vivek report, 95% of teenagers aged between 23 and 17 use a social media platform. Additionally, a 2019 study suggested that teenagers who spent at least three hours on social media were at a higher risk of suffering from poor mental health, including anxiety and depression.

Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram are teens' most popular social media platforms. In the past decade, cases of hopelessness and sadness have skyrocketed, especially among girls. The surgeon’s report indicates that depression in teens started to rise in 2012 when social media platforms began becoming popular. During that time, engagement metrics, such as likes and comments, were introduced, and the social media algorithm became more sophisticated to keep people on the platform longer.

On top of cases of depression and anxiety, social media has been blamed for causing other mental health issues among teens, such as eating disorders, low self-esteem, and body dysmorphia. There are also reports indicating that excessive use of social media could be a cause of hyperactivity or attention deficit disorders in teenagers.

Benefits of Social Media For Teens

With the possible harm of social media among teens, questions have been raised about whether it is beneficial. Here are some benefits:

• Promotion of kids' well-being. Social media can be good for teens when used to promote their well-being. It can help them make and maintain friendships.
• Social support. Teens can connect with other like-minded teenagers worldwide on social media. This can help them develop and grow, which is particularly important for teens marginalized daily.
• Learning and recovery. There is possibly nearly all kinds of content on social media. With groups such as Science and Discovery, Maths, or foreign languages on social media, the platforms can help kids improve their skills.
• Social media marketing. Teens learning business skills can use different platforms to market their products.

The Correlation Between Social Media and Depression in Teens

As noted earlier, the more time that teens spend on social media, the higher the chances of getting depressed. So, why is social media often associated with anxiety and depression? Here are several reasons:

Social Isolation  

Nowadays, kids spend less time with their family and friends than in previous generations. Instead, they spend most of their time on social media, which often makes them feel isolated. Although, in most cases, they think they are connecting with people on social media, these interactions may not be as rewarding as face-to-face interactions.

No Healthy Hobbies

Due to their time on social media, teens often lack the time to engage in healthy outdoor activities such as bike riding, hiking, or walking. Physical activities release the endorphins hormone, which helps reduce the symptoms of depression. They also provide teens with a sense of confidence and accomplishment.

Poor Sleep Habits

According to research, one of the major contributors to depression is lack of sleep. On the other hand, spending a lot of time on social media can cause stress, leading to insomnia. This is because even when social media users login to stay for a few minutes, they end up spending hours. Finally, the blue light produced by electronic screens has been noted to interfere with sleep patterns. That means teens who usie social media before bed often suffer from sleep deprivation.

Steps to Help Protect Teens From Social Media Harms

With social media's harmful effects on teenagers, action is needed to protect them. Here are steps to help protect teenagers from social media harm:

Stricter Social Media Policies

According to the Surgeon’s report, policymakers and technology companies must take action. Social media policies must protect teens from excessive use and exposure to harmful content. Companies should also create better tools to protect teenagers. For instance, they can remove features that entice teens to stay online longer.

Creating a Tech-Free Environment

Parents, too, have a significant role to play in protecting their teens from anxiety resulting from social media use. One way they can do that is by creating a tech-free environment in the home. They should also have candid discussions with their kids to understand how they feel using social media.

Ring-Fencing Teens from Harmful Content

There is no doubt that some social media platforms, such as TikTok, are filled with harmful content that could affect teens' mental health. This includes information on adult content, self-harm content, and misinformation. Social media platforms and policymakers should put in place steps to ensure that such content isn’t seen by teens.

Conclusion

When evaluating the correlation between social media use and anxiety, it's essential to realize that mental health conditions can also be caused by factors other than just social media. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that those who spend more time on social media are more predisposed to depression.

This is often attributed to negative behaviors such as insomnia, FOMO, comparison with other users, harmful content, and cyberbullying. All these factors contribute to an increase in anxiety in teens. Therefore, there is a need for parents, social media platforms, and policymakers to implement the steps outlined above to help protect teens on social media from anxiety.