Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Teens

Social media is neither inherently good nor inherently bad. It has an upside and a downside and can affect the mental health of teenagers in both positive and negative ways. In this article, we’ll consider some positive and negative effects of social media on teens.

Positive Effects of Social Media on Teens

On the plus side, it can help teens stay in touch with friends, family, and support groups; feel less isolated or alone; provide an outlet for creativity and self-expression; foster positive connections with others who share similar interests and talents; as well as provide positive role models that inspire them to develop healthy habits, motivate them to follow their dreams, and/or try something new.

It can also enable teens to learn about and stay abreast of current events, expose them to different points of view, and provide them with a platform to support causes they care about.

Possible Negative Effects of Social Media on Teens

Increased feelings of anxiety and depression

Teenagers are particularly susceptible to the influence of their peers and tend to compare themselves to others and feel pressured to present a perfect image of themselves on social media. This may lead to a constant need for validation and the tying of their feelings of self-worth to the number of followers and likes they have, which can add to feelings of anxiety and depression.

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

People tend to edit their photos and present their best selves on social media, portraying unrealistic views of their lives that may make teens think they are missing out, and that their life doesn’t seem as exciting, glamorous, fulfilling, or worthy as that of their peers.

They may also feel excluded and left out when they see pictures posted of friends having fun together without them, or at a party they were not invited to or were unable to attend and feel lonely, inadequate, depressed, and discontent with their own lives.

Distorted body image and decreased self-esteem

Constant exposure to unrealistic beauty standards and curated images of peers and media influencers that look nothing like they do in real life, may lead to a distorted perception of self that has a damaging effect on a teen’s body image and self-esteem, perpetuates body dissatisfaction, and can lead to dysfunctional eating behaviors such as anorexia or bulimia.

Exposure to dangerous content

Social media can expose teens to hate-based subject matter such as racism, as well as dangerous content like forums that promote risky behaviors, and in which teens encourage and support one another in unhealthy behaviors such as disordered eating or self-harm.

Privacy and security risks

Reckless sharing of personal information and interactions with strangers can expose teens to stalking, online predators, and exploitation, and make them targets of private data theft and identity fraud.

Cyberbullying and harassment

Social media makes the Internet an easy place for bullying and harassment to take place. Perpetrators can feel safe doing it by hiding behind screen names that keep them anonymous. Having threats or harmful, false, embarrassing, and/or private information about them posted on social media, can lead victimized teens to experience fear, anxiety, shame, loss of self-esteem, and/or social isolation, and in many cases lead to suicide.

Tech addiction

Excessive social media use can overstimulate the brain’s reward center, create neural pathways and changes in brain structure similar to those formed in other addictions such as substance abuse or gambling, and lead to an addiction to technology and the internet.

Teens who are tech-addicted become so consumed with social media that they lose interest in anything else to the point where their constant scrolling on a cell phone or other devices interferes with their ability to get enough sleep, their academic performance, and real-life activities such as physical exercise and in-person social interactions.

Four Steps to Minimize the Negative Effects

• Set a good example and model responsible social media behavior.
• Establish healthy social media limits and boundaries regarding when and where devices can be used, like limiting your teen’s screen time, and creating tech-free zones at mealtimes or in the bedroom at night.
• Encourage your teen to participate in real-life activities such as sports, reading regular books, engaging in hobbies, or spending time with friends.
• Show your teen how to have a healthy relationship with social media by teaching him or her digital literacy skills like how to protect their privacy, maintain a secure profile, manage friend requests wisely, identify misinformation, and never reveal personal information such as their address or phone number.

If you have questions about this article on the effects of social media on teens or need more help than it could provide, please give us a call at Vancouver Christian Counseling in Washington. We would be happy to help.