Social media has long been recognized as having a significant impact on the mental health of children and teenagers. Recent court battles between school districts and state governments and social media companies highlight the seriousness of this issue. In this article, we will explore the various ways in which social media affects the mental health of young people and discuss potential solutions.

Uncovering the Hidden Dangers of Social Media on Youth

Social Media and Negative Mental Health Effects

Research has clearly shown the negative connection between social media use and mental health issues in kids and adolescents. A 2019 JAMA study found that those using social media for more than three hours a day had a 2.5 times higher risk of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Even for those already struggling with mental health, spending just over 30 minutes a day on social media led to almost twice the risk of these symptoms. (Riehm 2019)It seems absurd that kids are only supposed to spend 30 minutes online when, on average, teens spend nine hours. With school, homework, and other activities, this leaves them with little time for sleep.For children with ADHD, the negative effects of social media are even more pronounced. Multiple studies have reported that they are more likely to become addicted to platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Moreover, increased social media usage worsens ADHD symptoms such as inattention and increases oppositional behavior, anxiety, and depression. (Dekkers 2022)

Surgeon General's Social Media Advisory

The overuse of social media is so harmful to teens' mental health that the Surgeon General of the United States issued a social media advisory in 2023. With almost 95% of youth ages 13-17 using social media and more than one in three using it "almost constantly," the issue is widespread. The advisory reports that frequent social media use can harm children and adolescents in multiple ways. It can increase impulsive behavior, worsen emotional regulation and social behavior. Research also shows that social media may change parts of the brain responsible for emotions and learning.

TikTok and Mental Health Effects on Kids and Teens

Internal TikTok documents reported by NPR state that when kids watch TikTok, they miss out on important activities like sleep, eating, moving around, and looking at others in the eyes. TikTok's own research quoted in a lawsuit by Kentucky authorities states that "compulsive usage correlates with a slew of negative mental health effects like loss of analytical skills, memory formation, contextual thinking, conversational depth, empathy, and increased anxiety."Parents should be aware that TikTok can quickly pull kids into "filter bubbles" that promote disordered eating, self-harm, or suicide. One of TikTok's internal documents states that users are "placed into 'filter bubbles' after 30 minutes of use in one sitting." These filter bubbles or "echo chambers" are also encouraged by the algorithms on all social media platforms to keep users engaged.

TikTok and Meta: Awareness of Platform Harm

In another set of documents, NPR reports that TikTok knew its features could lead kids and teens to develop a "constant and irresistible urge" to keep using the app. It takes just 260 videos or as little as 35 minutes to form such an addictive habit, according to the NPR report.Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has also had its documents leaked. In 2021, former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen testified to Congress that Meta put profits before people by downplaying the harms of its platforms. NPR reported that Haugen leaked internal Meta research showing that 13.5% of teen girls said Instagram worsens suicidal thoughts and 17% said it contributes to their eating disorders.

Social Media Protection Features: Ineffectiveness

Unfortunately, the protection features put in place by social media platforms themselves have been largely ineffective. Parents should not rely on them alone.Age restrictions are not enforced. Despite the required minimum age of 13 in the US, nearly 40% of children ages 8-12 are using social media. Most platforms rely on users simply stating their age, and verification beyond this is limited and inconsistently enforced.Meta, which is being sued by 40 states and the District of Columbia for allegedly using addictive features that harm children's mental health, has launched a new tool. A Meta spokesperson shared that they "developed numerous tools to support parents and teens," including new "Teen Accounts" on Instagram with added protections, according to Reuters.Publicly, TikTok promotes its tools. One gives users a time prompt at 60 minutes a day, and another allows parents to limit usage to 40 minutes to two hours. TikTok also promotes "break" videos to encourage users to take a break. However, internal documents show that executives view these break videos as a "good talking point" and that the time tools only improve "public trust in the TikTok platform via media coverage." In internal tests, TikTok found that their tools led to virtually no change in usage. Before the tool, teens were spending about 108.5 minutes a day, and after, they spent approximately 107 minutes. One document revealed by NPR quotes a TikTok project manager saying, "Our goal is not to reduce the time spent." Another employee's chat message stated that the goal is to "contribute to DAU [daily active users] and retention" of users.

Parents' Role in Protecting Kids

The most powerful tool parents have to protect their kids' mental health from the negative effects of too much time on social media is to engage with them. By combining parental controls, time limits, and ongoing conversations about social media, parents can make a difference.