CEN Teen Contributor A. Marshall Defines the Problem and Offers Solutions to the Social Media Crisis Among Teens Today in her February 2022 report titled:
Social Media and the Deteriorating Mental Health of Teens
Problems as a result of social media often begin when parents allow their kids to have phones and access social media at a very young age. Young children who frequently play games on smartphones can become addicted to screens as they get older. Children begin to be on their smartphones more every day, making them develop the mindset that it is acceptable to use their phones to replace things or people in their lives. As they grow older, the addiction grows with them. Their life becomes all about trying to stay informed to look “perfect” for people in the media.
This pursuit of perfection is a rabbit hole that often ends in disappointment. To start at the beginning, it is important to understand factors that contribute to the underlying compulsion that often comes with social media. One important factor is a mental health disorder called FOMO, which stands for “Fear of Missing Out.” Teenagers will constantly check their phones because they are scared they are going to miss out on breaking news in their social circle. Even though this form of social media usage is minimal throughout the day, and they are not on their phones for an extended period of time, it is still considered an addiction (Robinson).
This is a very serious place to be. If social media is not managed correctly, it can lead to mental-emotional hazards such as anxiety, depression, and the feeling of exclusion. This is why parents need to stop the problem before more serious problems arise.
There are many reasons why this addiction leads to mental health problems. Getting “likes” on social media creates good feelings from the release of dopamine in the brain, but this also contributes to cravings for more. When a teen gets positive feedback, it is scientifically proven to cause the brain to have the same chemical reaction it does when someone is addicted to cocaine (Hillard). The social media platform is like an illusion because it creates a fantasy world that is not based on reality. People who work for social media platforms control what gets promoted, and they know how long teens look at the video and other advertisements. Every time teens are on social media, an algorithm studies them and targets advertisements related to the things they view (“Social Dilemma”). Teens' mental state begins to spoil, and as they become more addicted, they begin to struggle with anxiety and depression. They will then have a hard time sleeping, leaving their room, and socializing in person.
Relevant to teenagers during the 2020 pandemic is the link between isolation and social media addiction. Studies have shown that times of isolation drastically increase the rates of becoming addicted. After lockdowns, people spent more time on TikTok and other social media platforms than they ever did before. TikTok’s average user spends 12 hours, 12 minutes a week on their site (Eirian). Studies show 70% of teens are on their phones and complementary devices every day (Richter). When teens are on social media too much, this can also create feelings of being isolated; FOMO becomes much worse when teens look at false trends and accept them as truth. For example, when a social media user says that they are changing their appearance due to a new online trend, not because they want to change but because they feel like they must, this gives pressure to look "perfect" and to "fit in." This in turn leads to increasing insecurity of identity, leaving their mental state wrecked. (Robinson). These are only some of the contributing factors to teenagers' mental health issues, and it lends to reason that there are many more effects.
Isolation and addiction are not the only harmful effects of social media use among teens. The tragedy of feeling alone and isolated can lead to things much worse such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Instead of socializing in person, teens intrinsically feel as if they are being excluded. Jealousy begins to build as well as anxiety, leaving them thinking about how their life is “terrible” because everyone else’s life is “better” (Hillard). This is why socializing face to face is important. Studies show socializing in person can reduce the feeling of depression and assist mentality (Williams). Not only will socializing in-person help teens' mental state, but it will also reduce the chances of experiencing cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is another negative effect of social media on teens' mental health. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying, but instead of the bullying being physical and occurring in person, it takes place online. Negative comments and words are used against someone else on social media to either make them feel bad or feel hurt. Even though social media is great for communication and raising awareness, cyberbullies are one of the most serious factors. On social media, 10% of teens were identified as being bullied on the internet (Robinson). This can make teens feel depressed, humiliated, helpless, and even suicidal.
Tearing people down with words is not what God wants anyone to do or how anyone wants to be treated. Mathew 22:37-39 says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like, unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. " For teens, cyberbullying can feel like they are being bullied all day, every week without having the ability to ever get away from it. Cyberbullying means there are no limits or anyone present to contradict the bullying, so in these instances, putting down the smartphone and leaving social media will help teens heal and open themselves to real friends (Robinson). As if cyberbullying is not a big enough problem already, but if not addressed, it can also lead to anxiety and depression
As touched on previously, so many of the effects of social media lead down the road that so many teenagers travel in today’s culture: the journey of depression and anxiety. Addiction, FOMO and cyberbullying are all contributing factors to this all-consuming depression of sadness and fatigue that is crippling today’s generation of young people. Once a young person has entered into the world of clinical depression, it is a pit of helplessness and hopelessness that is not easily escaped (Smith). Not only does it make one feel weak, but this depression can become a one-two punch with the onset of anxiety.
Anxiety is one of the other results of social media addictions. According to Webster’s Dictionary, anxiety is, “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” As teenagers spend more and more hours behind closed doors in their bedrooms, living their lives while scrolling through a screen, this is where all things collide. Their world revolves around social media. They are compelled by the fear of missing out on a world from which they already feel excluded. They are chasing an unattainable perfection, and many of them are bullied or have gotten into unhealthy online relationships. Then, depression takes hold, and their “pit” becomes deeper.
The overwhelming sadness and exhaustion escalate to pressure building on their shoulders, causing their emotions to sit in a pool of anxiety. They now are crippled with fear of the future, panic over real human
interaction and they are frozen in their bedrooms and their school hallways, stuck in the social media mental health storm that has caught an entire generation in its downpour. Parents may be wondering how they are supposed to know if their child has an addiction. There are actually many ways people can detect a social media addiction. The first way parents can tell if their teen has an addiction is to see if they spend a lot of time thinking about using social media. The second way is to find out if they have a frequent urge to use their smartphone to access social media. Some teens might even use social media as a distraction to forget about their problems. The last way is to discover if social media is having a negative impact on their teen’s behavior and attitude. (Hilliard). If parents can detect an addiction, they can start to enforce solutions.
To combat a social media addiction, teens and their parents must first be open to the many tools available to help them. One big step to help is to encourage face-to-face socialization. Being with people one loves improves health and brings positivity to one’s life. Also, when teens have friends and family around, they tend to express more gratitude. Research shows taking time for reflection helps people remember positive memories and brings happiness (Robinson). Teens also need to practice self-control and be responsible by not taking their phones to bed or constantly looking at their phones every day.
interaction and they are frozen in their bedrooms and their school hallways, stuck in the social media mental health storm that has caught an entire generation in its downpour. Parents may be wondering how they are supposed to know if their child has an addiction. There are actually many ways people can detect a social media addiction. The first way parents can tell if their teen has an addiction is to see if they spend a lot of time thinking about using social media. The second way is to find out if they have a frequent urge to use their smartphone to access social media. Some teens might even use social media as a distraction to forget about their problems. The last way is to discover if social media is having a negative impact on their teen’s behavior and attitude. (Hilliard). If parents can detect an addiction, they can start to enforce solutions.
To combat a social media addiction, teens and their parents must first be open to the many tools available to help them. One big step to help is to encourage face-to-face socialization. Being with people one loves improves health and brings positivity to one’s life. Also, when teens have friends and family around, they tend to express more gratitude. Research shows taking time for reflection helps people remember positive memories and brings happiness (Robinson). Teens also need to practice self-control and be responsible by not taking their phones to bed or constantly looking at their phones every day.
Although most of the solutions help with addiction and the mental health of teens, there are some things parents need to do as well. The biggest thing parents need to do is enforce boundaries. One of the strongest and most effective boundaries that parents can set is to not allow their children to have social media at a young age or during their adolescent years. When kids are young, they have not developed enough maturity or brain development to obtain self-control, certainly not enough to have access to social media behind a closed door where it can quickly get out of control if not monitored. This is one of the reasons why it is important for parents to be good role models for their kids. Parents can also set boundaries by enforcing a screen time limit. This will allow their child to still have some time on social media with friends while also restricting the amount of time they are on it so they will not spend all their free time on a screen (Robinson). While this may be effective in some cases, sadly parents may find that the screen limits can be ineffectual against the powerful forces found online.
It is important parents recognize the consequences of frequent social media use. Parents and teens have the ability to make a change in one’s life, and through God’s strength, it will be done. God commands his people to help and to love one another. John 15:12 says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” God tells his people to focus on him and it is important the Church follows through with His commandments. Moving forward, parents not only have the ability to help their children, but by doing so they are helping the community, helping to change the world.
It is important parents recognize the consequences of frequent social media use. Parents and teens have the ability to make a change in one’s life, and through God’s strength, it will be done. God commands his people to help and to love one another. John 15:12 says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” God tells his people to focus on him and it is important the Church follows through with His commandments. Moving forward, parents not only have the ability to help their children, but by doing so they are helping the community, helping to change the world.
Works Cited
“Anxiety.” Merriam Webster Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxiety. Eirian, Proser. “Which Social Media App is the Most Addictive?” Oxford Mail, 5 February 2021, https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19068537.social-media-app-addictive/. Hilliard, Jena. “Social Media Addiction.” Addiction Center, Reviewed by Theresa Parisi, 7 December 2021, https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/social-media-addiction/. Richter, Felix. “Teens' Social Media Usage Is Drastically Increasing.” Statista, 9 October 2018, https://www.statista.com/chart/15720/frequency-of-teenagers-social-media-use/. Robinson, Lawrence, et. al. “Social Media and Mental Health.” Help Guide, October 2021, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm. Smith, Melinda, et. al. “Dealing with Teen Depression.” Help Guide, October 2021, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/teenagers-guide-to-depression.htm. “The Social Dilemma.” Directed by Jeff Orlowski, 2020. https://www.netflix.com/search?q=soci&jbv=81254224 “What Does John 15:12 Mean?” Knowing Jesus, https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/john-15-12. Williams, Vivien. “Mayo Clinic Minute: The Benefits of Being Socially Connected.” Mayo Clinic, 19 April 2019, https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-the-benefits-of-being socially-connected/.
Excellent insight from a young contributor! Boundaries are something typically not discussed and often misunderstood. Enabling young people to learn to make their own boundaries is a priority of parenting. This article helps to articulate some of the challenges they face without that learning experience.
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