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Ariana Motamedi

Professor Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1103

16 September, 2019

Topic Proposal:​ Social Media And Mental Health

Introduction/Overview

I will be examining the reasons why social media platforms, such as Instagram and

Snapchat, increase the risk of anxiety and depression in teenagers. Multiple studies have shown

that being on social media for long periods can cause teens to feel more stressed, lonely, and

even suicidal. Although there are positive features associated with social media, such as

community building and self-expression, the negative impacts outweigh the positive.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association reported a severe increase in major depression

amongst young adults, ages 18 to 25, between 2013 and 2016. This was soon after social media

first came out, and in 2007, the first iPhone was released, which explains the sudden increase in

mental health issues. It was one of the most dramatic shifts in mental health recorded, and it

mainly pertained to teenagers because they grew up with modern technology. Using an abundant

amount of social media, generally, more than two hours a day has proven to affect sleep,

bullying, and mental health negatively. In a ​Time​ article written by Amanda Macmillan, she

states that “while the photo-based platform got points for self-expression and self-identity, it was

also associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying, and FOMO, or the ‘fear of

missing out.’” This anxiety comes from the fear of what others are saying about you if you post

something, which then leads to users photoshopping their bodies to look perfect. Teenagers also
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feel depressed when they see their other friends posting pictures and videos together. This makes

one feel left out and lonely, and they are left wondering why they weren’t invited. Something

Instagram allows on their platform is the #suicide and #depression, where anyone can post

triggering content for others to see.

In 2017, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Young Health Movement

created the #StatusOfMind campaign and wrote a report on the beneficial and harmful effects

social media has on mental health. The Royal Society for Public Health is “an independent health

education charity and the world’s longest-established public health body.” The Young Health

Movement is “a collection of young people and organizations championing all things health and

wellbeing.” Along with investigating the impact of multiple social media platforms, the RSPH

also called for government action to help emphasize the constructive aspects of social media.

One improvement they yearn for is a way for platforms to distinguish users who may struggle

with mental health. This is related to one of the inquiry questions I have for this project: What

kinds of posts are making young users feel depressed or anxious? By the end of my project, I

hope to know what specific content is causing this shift in teenagers’ mental health.

This topic is complex: Social media platforms have allowed people to express themselves

and form relationships with others freely. However, it has also become dangerous to some users.

In the ​Healthline​ article, “The FOMO Is Real: How Social Media Increases Depression and

Loneliness”, Gigen Mammoser states: “a common argument against the theory that social media

makes individuals more depressed and lonely is simply that perhaps those who are more

depressed and lonely are more inclined to use social media as a way of reaching out”. However,

multiple studies show that there is a correlation between using social media and the decline of
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one’s mental health. The majority of articles written on this topic focus on explaining the adverse

effects social media has on young adults. Not only do I want to examine these effects further, but

I also want to research what specific content contributes to the risks in mental health.

Initial Inquiry Question(s)

What elements of social media are causing a dramatic shift in young adults’ mental

health? What types of posts on social media platforms are causing teenagers to feel more anxious

or depressed? Is there a way to patrol this negative and triggering content that is being uploaded

for anyone to see?

My Interest in this Topic

I’m interested in researching this topic because I’ve had personal experience with how

social media can affect one’s mental health. Although I’ve had the opportunity to spread

awareness at my High School, I want to do more research and learn more about the topic. In

early 2019, I started reading more about how technology is affecting people’s mental health.

Before High School, my parents wouldn’t allow me to download any social media platform. I got

Snapchat when I was a Freshman, and I downloaded Instagram in the winter of 2017. It was only

until the beginning of this year that I noticed what a negative impact social media had on my life.

I never had a problem with what others would think if I posted something or why I wasn’t

invited to a party until I downloaded those two apps. The more social media platforms I had, the

worse my depression got. I started to spread awareness at my school by making artworks about

what it’s like for someone to consistently feel discouraged. I then displayed my works in the
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school halls and at art shows for students, parents, and teachers to see. I already know the

statistics and research that scientists have found, and the fundamental insight that social media

generally causes young adults to feel more depressed or lonely. I hope to learn more about the

type of posts that are causing teens to feel discouraged and why specific contents make teenagers

feel this way.

Next Steps

As I continue my research, I plan to visit the library database, various medical sites, news

articles, and read statistics about my topic. One research article I found in the UNCC library

database is titled, “Association Between Social Media Use and Depression Among U.S. Young

Adults.” I intend to analyze this article further and compare its data to the other articles I’ve

found. I will continue to read articles posted on medical websites such as ​Healthline​, the Anxiety

and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and ​WebMD​. These websites focus on the

world’s health and provide statistics and quotes from various scientists and researchers. I also

read that the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Young Health Movement came

together and started the #StatusOfMind campaign in 2017. They wrote a report on how specific

social media platforms were impacting young people’s mental health. The campaign also called

for action to promote the positive aspects of social media while diminishing the negatives. I have

downloaded this report to read so I can further understand the objective of this campaign and the

correlation between social media and mental health. I’m excited to begin working on my project

and becoming an expert on this topic. I’ve previously had personal experience with this topic,

but I want to dive deeper and find answers to the new questions I have.