By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 5 Ways Social Media Affects Teen Mental Health
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > 5 Ways Social Media Affects Teen Mental Health
eHealthMental HealthSocial Media

5 Ways Social Media Affects Teen Mental Health

Abby Norman
Abby Norman
Share
5 Min Read
social media addiction is harming teenage mental health
Shutterstock Photo License - Rawpixel.com
SHARE

Uncontrolled social media use can be addictive, mainly for teens. Spending too much time on social platforms and becoming too dependent on them may affect their mental health. One study estimates that as many as 10% of Americans suffer from social media addiction, which is higher among teens.

Contents
  • 1. Anxiety and depression
  • 2. Low self-esteem
  • 3. Loss of sleep
  • 4. Envy
  • 5. Social media dependence causes less independence
  • Endnote

However, learning how to establish healthy boundaries, staying safe, avoiding falling prey to social media trends, and creating time for face-to-face, meaningful interactions with family and friends promotes good mental health.

Nonetheless, teenagers, especially those with social depression or anxiety, are highly susceptible to self-image concerns, what others think about them, comparing themselves to others, and are eager to fit into a specific group of teens are at risk of experiencing mental health problems. Below are five ways social media affects teens’ mental health.

1. Anxiety and depression

Teens invest their emotions on social media. They want to post ideal photos and perfectly crafted posts. The pressure to be perfect online while worrying about what others will think or react to your posts and pictures may result in anxiety. Young adults may also fall into the trap of fake friends whose business is the grooming of minors. They might be left depressed, anxious, withdrawn, and constantly upset upon realizing it. Consider monitoring your child’s online activities, controlling social media use, and educating them on the dangers of prolonged social media use.

More Read

Mayo Clinic, Geisinger, Kaiser Permanente, Intermountain Healthcare, and Group Health Securely Share Patient-Specific Data
Social Leadership in HealthCare
5 Things to Know About How Physicians Use Tech
Pharma and Pinterest – The Good, The Bad, And The Bland.
Twitter Community #BCSM Expands Online To Broaden Patient Engagement

2. Low self-esteem

People post a lot of information about their personal lives and progress on social media. This may result in teens comparing that to what they don’t have, causing self-esteem issues. Physical appearance contributes immensely to one’s self-esteem. When young adults share their videos and images online, they pay too much attention to their physical appearance. The edited photos and videos they see online might push them to want to attain such looks just to fit it in or follow the trend. Failure to get the expected reactions might leave them feeling unworthy, causing low self-esteem.

3. Loss of sleep

Spending too much time on social media may cause trouble for teens falling asleep and getting sleep during the night. Therefore, pulling back from social media is important for sleep hygiene. Thanks to the fear of missing out (FOMO), teens are forced to keep checking their social media accounts even a few minutes before bedtime, causing sleep problems. This increases the risk of suffering from sleep disorders like insomnia.

This may lead to loss of focus in school, anxiety, and depression. Teens who experience FOMO, especially before time, should consider relaxation exercises to help them sleep better. Silencing their alerts and notifications ensures they don’t wake up to their social media updates, improving their sleep.

4. Envy

While envy may seem like a normal feeling, it’s detrimental to a teen’s brain, mainly when they start with social comparison. If they become fixated on what their peers have experienced or possess, they might start seeing their lives as less exciting, feeding a mindset of inadequacy. Without realizing that they post their best moments while keeping away their struggles and challenging experiences, the teenagers might start feeling envious, leading to depression, anger, bitterness, and other mental issues.

5. Social media dependence causes less independence

Social media usage is a passive activity that doesn’t stimulate mental growth or development. It may cause learning disabilities, prevent cognitive development and other issues. Limit your child’s social media use and the platforms they spend time on.

Endnote

Social media dependence can be dangerous for a teen’s mental health. Monitor their usage and educate them of the potential dangers to ensure safe teenage social media use.

TAGGED:social media addiction
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Abby Norman
My name is Abby Norman and I am a healthcare blogger. With over 10 years of experience in the medical field, I have developed a passion for helping others understand the complexities of healthcare.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

iPhone App Gives Skin Cancer Risk Assessment

July 18, 2011

Embracing Change for Healthcare Transformation

March 17, 2013
Medical Device Marketing online FDA
eHealthPolicy & LawSocial Media

FDA Offers Guidance on Social Media Etiquette for Medical Device Manufacturers

July 4, 2014

Handling New Patient Leads: When to Call a Lead

May 18, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?