7/25/2017 Instagram 'worst for young mental health' - BBC News

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Instagram 'worst for young mental health'

19 May 2017 Health  

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Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on
young people's mental health, a UK snapshot survey suggests.

The poll asked 1,479 people aged 14-24 to score popular apps on issues such as anxiety,
depression, loneliness, bullying and body image.

Instagram said keeping the platform a safe and supportive place for young people was a top
priority.

Mental health charities urged companies to act to increase users' safety.

 'Inadequacy and anxiety'  

The Royal Society for Public Health study says social platforms should flag up heavy social
media use and identify users with mental health issues.

Instagram says it provides tools and information on how to cope with bullying and warns users
before they view certain content.

The RSPH report says that "social media may be fuelling a mental health crisis" in young
people.

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7/25/2017 Instagram 'worst for young mental health' - BBC News

However, it can also be used as a tool for good, the report said. Instagram, for example, was
found to have a positive effect on self-expression and self-identity.

About 90% of young people use social media - more than any other age group - so they are
particularly vulnerable to its effects, although it is not clear what these are on current
evidence.

'Deep depressive episode'

Isla is in her early 20s. She got hooked on social media as a teenager when going through a
difficult time in her life.

"The online communities made me feel included and that I was worthwhile.

"However, I soon began to neglect 'real life' friendships and constantly spent all my time
online talking to my friends there.

"I fell into a deep depressive episode aged 16, which lasted for months and was utterly
horrible.

"During this time social media made me feel worse, as I would constantly compare myself to
other people and make myself feel bad.

"When I was 19, I had another bad depressive episode. I'd go on social media, see all my
friends doing things and hate myself for not being able to do them, or feel bad that I wasn't as
good a person as them."

   
ISLA WHATELEY

Social media has also been a positive in Isla's life.

"I have blogged a lot about mental health and I'm quite open about it and have good
conversations with people about it.

"I find it gives me a platform to talk and talking with people is something I find imperative to
my own health.

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"The online friends I made five or six years ago I'm still friends with to this day and have met
many of them in person."

The online survey asked participants a series of questions about whether YouTube,
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter had an impact on their health and well-being.

Participants were asked to score each platform on 14 health and well-being issues.

Based on these ratings, YouTube was considered to have the most positive impact on mental
health, followed by Twitter and then Facebook.

Snapchat and Instagram were given the lowest scores overall.

'Wild West'
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the RSPH, said: "It is interesting to see Instagram and
Snapchat ranking as the worst for mental health and well-being - both platforms are very
image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in
young people."

In light of the findings, public health experts are calling for social media platforms to introduce
a series of checks and measures to help tackle mental health, including:

Pop-ups warning people that they have used social media for a long time (supported by
70% of young people surveyed)

Social media platforms identifying users with mental health problems and "discreetly
signposting places they can get support"

Platforms highlighting when photos have been digitally manipulated - for example, fashion
brands, celebrities and other advertising organisations could sign up to a voluntary code,
allowing a small icon to be displayed on digitally altered photos

   

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The report also recommends that NHS England comes up with a vetting scheme for health
and well-being information so young people are better able to judge whether information is

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7/25/2017 Instagram 'worst for young mental health' - BBC News

trustworthy.

Ms Cramer added: "As the evidence grows that there may be potential harms from heavy use
of social media, and as we upgrade the status of mental health within society, it is important
that we have checks and balances in place to make social media less of a 'wild West' when it
comes to young people's mental health and well-being."

Tom Madders, from mental health charity YoungMinds, said the recommendations could help
many young people.

"Increasing safety within social media platforms is an important step and one we urge
Instagram and other sites to act upon.

"But it's also important to recognise that simply 'protecting' young people from particular
content types can never be the whole solution."

He said young people needed to understand the risks of how they behaved online and should
be taught how to respond to "harmful content that slips through filters".

Michelle Napchan, Instagram head of policy, said: "Keeping Instagram a safe and supportive
place, where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, is our top priority - particularly
when it comes to young people.

"Every day people from all over the world use Instagram to share their own mental health
journey and get support from the community. For those struggling with mental health issues,
we want them to be able to access support on Instagram when and where they need it.

"That's why we work in partnership with experts to give people the tools and information they
need while using the app, including how to report content, get support for a friend they are
worried about or directly contact an expert to ask for advice on an issue they may be
struggling with."

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