Adequate mental health is crucial in a teenager’s life. Mental health can be affected negatively by many different things, including social media.
Here at Adolescent Wellness Academy, we understand that the lives of teens can be influenced by the world around them, and we want to help them find positive influences to build their self-esteem.
What Is Social Media?
Social media is a way for individuals to communicate with each other and share information about their lives on the internet. It’s a tool for creating content and sharing it with the public. Social media can be used in many different ways.
However you use social media, it can be beneficial, but it can also be detrimental to mental health.
How Bad Is Social Media for Your Mental Health?
Social Media affects mental health in many different ways. For teenagers, it can be self-diminishing and be a component in lowering their self-esteem. Social media involves a lot of pictures and influences that can be used to compare oneself with others.
Comparison is one of the main reasons for low self-esteem in the social media world. Social media influencers portray a “perfect” life and have the “perfect” body (everybody is different, so there is not a set perfect body style).
This causes comparison and puts pressure on teenagers to feel like they need to try harder to be good enough. Another thing about social media that individuals seem to forget is that everyone who posts on social media posts their “best life.” This means that when someone posts on social media, they leave out the icky, messy parts of their life because it’s not necessarily something that they wish to share with the world.
The Psychological Effects of Social Media on Teens
Teenagers are in a crucial stage of brain development, making them especially vulnerable to the psychological effects of social media. Here are some ways it affects mental health:
Comparison Culture
Social media is filled with curated highlights, where people only post the best parts of their lives. This leads to:
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Unrealistic comparisons to edited photos and “perfect” lifestyles.
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Feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
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Increased pressure to conform to beauty and success standards.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
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Seeing friends attend events or vacations can make teens feel excluded.
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This leads to constant checking of social media and anxiety about missing something important.
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Triggers compulsive scrolling and decreased satisfaction with personal life.
Validation and Dopamine Cycles
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Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, rewarding users with likes, comments, and shares.
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This creates a cycle where teens seek validation through online approval, impacting their self-worth.
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The constant need for affirmation can lead to mood swings and increased stress.
Cyberbullying and Online Harassment
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Anonymity online makes it easier for bullying and harassment to occur.
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Victims of cyberbullying are more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts.
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Unlike in-person bullying, online harassment can follow teens anywhere, making it difficult to escape.
How Social Media Contributes to Anxiety and Depression
Several studies have linked excessive social media use to higher levels of anxiety and depression in teens. Some key reasons include:
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Constant exposure to negativity – Social media can spread bad news, arguments, and misinformation, which increases stress.
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Unrealistic expectations – Influencers and celebrities often portray unattainable lifestyles, causing feelings of failure.
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Lack of real-world connections – Overuse of social media can replace in-person interactions, leading to loneliness and isolation.
A study from the National Institute of Mental Health found that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to experience mental health problems.
Don’t Let Social Media Ruin Your Mental Health
Stress can be induced by social media, especially when consuming a large amount a day. Social media can also be addicting with mindless scrolling, photoshop, and much more. Here are some tips to help relieve the stress caused by social media:
- Use in moderation: When consuming social media, it may be helpful to restrict the amount you consume a day. Limiting an individual’s use of social media can not only help to stop comparison, but it can also help to put down the devices and have meaningful conversations with others.
- Focus on positivity: Find accounts or content that provides positivity, whether emotional, mental, or spiritual. This uplifting content can put a new light on social media and be beneficial for well-being instead of breaking it down.
- Create meaningful content: Use social media to uplift others. This can not only assist in rising the self-esteem of others but also oneself. Creating uplifting content is crucial to changing the algorithm of social media and society.
- Spend more time off the phone than on the phone: In these unprecedented times, it may be difficult to find peace within the world, but consuming media is not the way to create a happy mind space. Spending more time off the phone than on the phone can be crucial in developing a happy lifestyle and healthier habits. Use this time to spend with loved ones, in nature, or on self-care.
Teen Mental Health Treatment in South Florida – AWA
At Adolescent Wellness Academy, a teen mental health treatment center located in South Florida, we understand the complexities and challenges of guiding our loved ones, especially adolescents, toward recovery from mental health challenges.
Recognizing the delicate nature of this journey, we are committed to offering compassionate, specialized care even in situations where individuals may be hesitant to seek help.
We are dedicated to providing a supportive environment that fosters healing and growth through our tailored programs:
- Day Therapeutic Program: A structured daytime treatment offering therapeutic support and education that integrates seamlessly with the adolescent’s daily life.
- After-School Program: An innovative approach that provides therapeutic activities and supports post-school hours, allowing teens to continue their education while receiving the care they need.
When you join our therapy or afterschool programs, you enter a caring and non-judgmental community. This support network involves teens, their families, peers, and our team.
Our team of clinicians, alumni, and other parents is here to offer invaluable assistance. Parent Support Groups (PSG) and assessments ensure that the support is tailored to each family’s needs.
Contact us today about teen mental health or visit our locations in Miami-Dade and Broward.
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Brandsmen
