Social media helps people to connect with like-minded individuals and develop a harmonious bond. That aside, with endless reels and online content, the entertainment is endless. But there is a dark side to this medium as well. There are several negative outcomes to mindless and continuous scrolling. Besides eating away time, excessive social media use also ruins one’s peace and inner balance.
Research highlights that young adults who log into their Facebook or other social media accounts tend to have depression. Some people are at risk of suicidal thoughts and negative thinking that stops them from leading a high-quality life.
In the United States, suicide rates have gone down by a little since 2019. But even then, it is a serious concern in terms of teen mental health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the total number of suicides in females increased by 87% in the past 20 years between the age group 15 and 24. For males within the same age group, the suicide rate increased by 30% over the time frame.
And much of this can be attributed to the excessive use of social media. In this article, we will discuss how Facebook addiction can affect teen mental health. We will also touch upon actions parents can take to correct this situation.
Meta Under the Scanner
In October 2023, the Washington Post reported that 41% of states along with D.C. are suing Meta. The complaint is that this tech giant harms teens by developing addictive features on Facebook and Instagram, which negatively impacts their mental health. Every Facebook lawsuit that has been filed affirms this claim.
According to General Letitia James, a lawyer in New York, Meta over the years has profited from the pain points that teens suffer from. The platform offers manipulative features that add to one’s social media addiction and lowers their self-esteem.
It’s a broad-ranging suit that is an outcome of the investigation organized by a bipartisan alliance of lawyers from Kentucky, California, Nebraska, Florida, Vermont, Tennessee, and New Jersey. Meta’s research revealed that the company was aware it harmed teenagers, mostly teen girls, in terms of body image issues and mental health conditions.
An internal study revealed that 13.5% of the girls stated that browsing Instagram aggravated their suicidal thoughts. Another 17% of teen girls stated that it made their eating disorders worse. Hence, it is evident that excessive Facebook or social media use can rob teens of their happiness and peace of mind.
Mental Health Issues Associated With Facebook Use
A prominent concern with social media addiction is developing body image issues and self-esteem problems. Teens often compare their lives with others and feel they aren’t good enough. They feel that they need to look a certain way to get counted as attractive, which makes them resort to fad diets and suffer from eating disorders.
Another harmful effect of excessive Facebook browsing is that teens don’t know when to stop. It affects their focus and doesn’t allow them to concentrate on other important aspects such as working out, pursuing a hobby, studying, socializing, and the like.
This keeps them caught up in the constant loop of browsing, which eventually leads to addiction. The outcome is social isolation, depression, lack of focus, aggressive behavior, and mood swings that they didn’t see coming before.
The other harsh reality of social media concerns among teens is cyberbullying. Donna Wick, EdD, a clinical and developmental psychologist, says that teens today utter words that we would never think to say in a lifetime to others. This takes place as rude comments on one’s pictures, sly messages in inboxes, and spreading rumors about someone.
The teens who fall prey to cyberbullying often develop excess anxiety and paranoia and tend to commit suicide. Hence, parents must note a few early signs and try to resolve the matter.
The Course Correction: Things Parents Can Do
Is your teen suffering from cyberbullying? Or have they been a victim of any vicious social media content that has negatively impacted their life? If so, it is necessary to take legal action.
TorHoerman Law states that parents should get in touch with a lawyer and present the evidence they have about how social media affects their teens. Once the lawyer assesses this evidence, they will develop a strong case and ensure that your kid gets the justice they need.
But apart from that, it is necessary to establish frank communication with your teen. Most of them fall prey to cyberbullying and other harsh effects of social media because they don’t confide in their parents. It’s because they feel they would be judged more and understood less. Hence, strike a heart-to-heart conversation with your teen and try to get to the root of the issue.
Furthermore, if you feel that they need to be put to therapy, get it organized but without placing any pressure on them. Speak with them to erase the taboo or inhibitions they have about taking therapy. It will help them to open up, accept their inner issues, and work on them instead of falling prey to social media addiction.
In conclusion, Jessica Holzbauer who works at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute states that teens get a dopamine release when they log into social media. While that is a rewarding experience, excessive use of it can affect one’s mental health. Hence, teens must realize that idle Facebook browsing doesn’t have all the answers to life’s problems. Parents should also note this issue and implement steps to correct it without being judgmental or dominating.
