Social media use is a big part of many teenagers’ lives. Teens are often drawn to social media as a way to stay connected with friends and explore their interests. While social media can be fun and informative in moderation, it can also take a toll on users. Excessive social media use can have a profound impact on your teen’s mental health and emotional stability. According to studies, children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health challenges. This data shows a correlation, meaning heavy social media use may both contribute to and result from mental health challenges. As a parent or guardian, it’s important to understand how social media is affecting your teen.

5 ways social media can impact your teen’s emotional and mental well-being

Social media doesn’t affect all teens in the same way. It can have different effects depending on how it’s used and the mindset of the user. If your teen already experiences mental health symptoms, they may be more vulnerable to the potential negative effects of social media use. Some ways that social media can affect your teen’s mental and emotional well-being include:

• Difficulty disconnecting — Social media isn’t chemically addictive in the same way addictive substances are, but it can cause users to form strong habits. Research has discovered how habitual social media use may lead to addiction. A teen with strong social media habits may scroll through social media for hours at a time. When the time comes to disconnect, they may have trouble putting their phone down or turning their computer off. Your teen may feel obligated to stay active on social media, compulsively checking for notifications or message replies. This kind of constant connection can lead to stress. It can also cause your teen to neglect important responsibilities and their own self-care.
• Constant negativity — When engaging with social media, your teen may be exposed to an overwhelming amount of negative content. This might include distressing news stories and hateful, derogatory posts. Constant exposure to negativity may cause your teen’s thoughts and feelings to become more negative as well. They may become more pessimistic and anxious about the future. If your teen already experiences anxiety, negative content can exacerbate their symptoms. Especially alarming content could potentially lead to panic attacks. If your teen experiences depression, negative content may contribute to low moods and thoughts of self-harm.
• Fear of missing out — Fear of missing out, sometimes shortened to FOMO, is a common phenomenon on the internet. FOMO is often intentionally elicited to drive continual engagement on social media and online gaming platforms. FOMO creates a sense of obligation. Your teen may feel as if they’ve been excluded or lost an opportunity whenever they’re not on social media; they may feel a need to always have an online presence so that they don’t miss anything important or fun. FOMO can add to other fears and worries, especially in teens with anxiety.
• Cyberbullying — Cyberbullying refers to targeted online harassment and discrimination. This kind of bullying might come through direct messages or through less direct means, such as posts alluding to a specific person or event. Your teen may be cyberbullied by people they know personally. However, your teen could also be harassed by anonymous people online who have no personal connection to them. Cyberbullying can damage self-esteem and confidence. It can also cause your teen to withdraw from social situations in the real world and online.
• Disrupted sleep patterns — Excessive social media use can hinder your teen’s ability to sleep. If your teen often scrolls at night, they may lose track of time and stay up late into the evening, having a harder time falling asleep. This can lead to poor sleep, which in turn can contribute to the symptoms of conditions like depression and anxiety.

Explore individualized mental health treatment for teens at Lightfully Teen

There are many practical strategies you can implement at home that can adjust social media’s impact on your teen’s mental health. You can try setting time limits or using apps that monitor their usage. However, we’re here if they need more intensive support.

Lightfully Teen can help your teen manage their mental health symptoms and build a healthier relationship with social media. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) provides a framework for everything we do. PCM is a fully personalized framework using the most effective aspects of evidence-based modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It also incorporates compassion-based and somatic therapies designed to target the drivers behind mental health symptoms. With three levels of care, we can help your teen find a treatment program that’s right for their needs. Our licensed clinical experts are ready to help your teen find relief and lasting improvement.

Change is possible. When you and your teen are ready to learn more about treatment options, contact us. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of your teen.