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Kaitlin Lunt

English 1201

Professor Echols

November 1, 2021

How Does the Use of Social Media Impact the Mental Health of Adolescents?

In this day and age, virtually everyone above 12 has a smartphone. These devices make it

easy to connect with others through social media sites, such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat,

Twitter, Tik Tok, and many more. Engaging in these sites allows people to post and make

updates on what is going on in their life, participate in new trends, connect with people around

the world, stay up to date on current events, and much more. Unfortunately, however, increased

use of social media negatively impacts adolescents’ mental health. It makes them feel isolated,

degrades self-esteem, causes sleep deprivation, and interrupts concentration and productivity,

leading to mild depressive symptoms and, in some cases, self-harm and suicide.

Social media has not been around for very long. In the 80s and 90s, the internet grew in

popularity, and more people began to have access to it. This meant mass communication through

email, and other messaging sites was becoming popular too. Not before long, the first social

media sites were invented. By the early 2000s, the most popular social networking sites were

launched. FaceBook began in 2004, with Reddit following in 2005, and Twitter in 2006 (The

Evolution). The article “The Evolution of Social Media: How Did It Begin, and Where Could It

Go Next?” was written by students from Maryville University. It took a look at the history of

social media and how it impacts businesses and marketing. According to the article, FaceBook

has “nearly 1.7 billion users- including 69% of US adults” (The Evolution). Additionally,

“Instagram has more than 1 billion users worldwide,” and TikTok, “Founded in 2016… As of
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early 2020, it had more than 800 million users worldwide” (The Evolution). These statistics

show how social media has grown and will continue to grow into the future. With so many

people connecting online, it allows for communication between the whole world, news to be

spread almost instantaneously, and information to reach virtually anyone. However, there are

downsides to excessive use of social media.

While social media can connect people, it can leave users feeling more isolated than

before. In the article, “Does Social Media Cause Depression?” Caroline Miller talks about the

correlation between social media and depression, how social media affects kids and teens in

different ways, and how to combat these effects. In addition, this article discusses a recent study

that found using social media could lead to perceived social isolation in young adults (Miller).

Perceived social isolation is the development of a feeling of isolation when seeing others
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participating in various social activities (Miller).

Fig. 1. This chart shows the results of a study that found a correlation between social media

usage and perceived social isolation in young adults (Franki).

Perceived social isolation shows to grow with more social media visits. When users see the

flashy, fun, and busy lives of others on social media, it can make them feel left out and like their
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life is less exciting and fulfilling. Individuals thinking they are missing out can check social

media more often. Social media can create enhanced feelings of loneliness, worsening anxiety

symptoms, and other mental health issues. The article “Social Media and Mental Health” by

Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith describes both the positive and negative aspects of social

media and how to create healthier habits. The article references a study that found frequently

using social media platforms amplifies feelings of loneliness. On the contrary, the same study

also found that less social media can decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation and improve

overall well-being (Robinson and Smith). This research shows that social media connects you

with many “friends,” but it does not replace real-life interaction. Social media can make users

feel even more isolated than before.

Coupled with isolation and loneliness, social media users can develop FOMO, also

known as a fear of missing out. FOMO means being scared of not being included in the social

world. The necessity to be connected sometimes takes priority over real-life experiences and

interactions with others. An increased use of social media makes individuals think less about

what is going on and more about the world inside of their cell phones (Miller). Adolescents are

constantly checking their phones, even when in social situations because they need to know what

others are doing and can’t dismiss notifications. FOMO can urge individuals to check their

phones repeatedly and respond to every alert. But, unfortunately, the need for an individual to

constantly check their phone means prioritizing their online life over their real-life (Robinson

and Lawrence). This highlights the fact that social media can be an addiction. Some people are

addicted to smoking and feel the need to smoke every couple of hours, or they can’t function.

Social media can be the same way. Some individuals can’t even go a few minutes without

checking their phone, especially if a new notification pops up. There is an unhealthy need to
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know what is going on, stemming from that fear of missing out and not connecting. As described

in the quote from Robinson and Smith, FOMO can also lead to missing out on sleep at night.

Sleep is essential to growing and developing adolescents. It is recommended to get

between 8-10 hours of sleep every night, which is a rarity for most teens and young adults. The

article “Smartphones, Social Media Use, and Youth Mental Health” by Elia Abi-Jaoude outlines

many adverse effects of teen social media use, including worsening mental health among the

young population. The article discusses a survey that found about 63.3 percent of students ages

11-20 sleep less than what is recommended. The same study also found a significant correlation

between using social media for more than an hour a day and inadequate sleep quality and

duration (Abi-Jaoude). This study, among others, shows a connection between phone and social

media usage and insufficient sleep quality. The article “Does Social Media Cause Depression?”

talks about how electronics, such as phones, give off blue light, which interferes with falling

asleep. Additionally, social media can cause stress and brain stimulations that do not help you

relax and fall asleep (Miller). This information proves that checking phones before bed can affect

an individual’s ability to sleep, which is an essential bodily function. Social media is also a big

time-waster, so intending to check your phone for a few minutes before going to sleep can

quickly turn into an hour or more that should be used to rest. Not having enough sleep can

worsen mood, increase tiredness throughout the day, and lessen the ability to focus.

Many people involved in social media are young and still in some form of school.

Attending school takes time, and usually, there is homework and studying that has to be

completed on top of that. Caroline Miller also talks about how many teens take breaks or get

distracted from doing homework and other activities by checking social media. Certain tasks

require concentration, so stopping and checking social media destroys the thought process and
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disturbs focus (Miller). When individuals use social media while doing homework and studying,

they take more time and are less effective, which causes more stress and anxiety. Multitasking

isn’t effective in this sense; responding to notifications and studying simultaneously means less

brainpower is devoted to each activity, and they are less effective (Miller). Students have

difficulty grasping the material when distracted or interrupted, so they perform worse in school.

Having bad grades can make some individuals feel inadequate and even stop trying altogether.

Feeling inadequate can lead to not being motivated to do simple tasks or pursue a career in the

future. Spending more time on social media means less time to do important and meaningful

things.

Scrolling on social media can last for hours due to the constant stimuli and new

information flooding your brain. Many social media platforms are designed using artificial

intelligence. The feed a user sees will adapt to their interests and provide more posts or

information about what they spend the most time looking at (Abi-Jaoude). The developing feed

keeps users on the platform for longer and keeps them coming back for more. The sites are

developing and becoming more innovative and geared towards you the more time you spend on

them. This method of giving users what they desire can create an addiction. The amount of time

adolescents spend on their phones is unhealthy and can prevent them from participating in

meaningful activities that improve their mental health. Caroline Miller also discusses how

spending lots of time on social media keep adolescents from doing other activities. Physical

training, developing skills and talents, and learning new hobbies help bring about a sense of

pride. Unfortunately, when these activities are not given any time or attention, depression and

other mental health issues can develop (Miller). These activities help contribute to a better sense

of well-being and can be harmful when adequate time is not spent. The time spent on social
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media inhibits personal growth and provides no pride and satisfaction. In the newspaper article,

“Mental Health Decline In Girls Made Worse by Social Media,” Arthi Nachiappank discusses

the factors that cause a steep mental health decline in girls at 14 and beyond. Numerous studies

found that more time dedicated to social media use and less time devoted to exercise decreased

confidence and happiness. These studies were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time

of physical isolation and less human interaction, which may have also contributed to the results

(Nachiapaank). This reiterates that time on social media prevents people from dedicating time to

activities that promote self-esteem and a feeling of fulfillment, such as exercise. Social media

companies are working to make users spend more time on their sites, creating an addiction that

prevents wholesome activities and degrades mental health.

Poor self-esteem is evident in many young people, especially young girls, and is only

magnified through the use of social media. The article “Smartphones, Social Media Use and

Youth Mental Health” discusses over 20 studies that concluded there was a correlation between

self-esteem issues and eating disorders, and social media use. In one instance, an experiment

where females browsed FaceBook or an appearance-neutral site for 10 minutes found that the

participants reported a worse mood when on FaceBook (Abi-Jaode). Even small doses of social

media can lead to a worse sense of self. Social media platforms are often used to display only

people’s best pictures and experiences. Photoshop, air-brushing, and perfected set-ups are used

in many of the images seen online. It is easy to decrease self-esteem when being compared to

these “perfect” images of others. Caroline Miller provides insight on how numerous surveys

conclude that Instagram is the social media site that most causes young people to reveal having

symptoms of depression, low self-confidence, and anxiety. This is due to Instagram's image-

driven theme (Miller). The false sense of perfection that is exhibited on Instagram, as well as
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other social media platforms, makes young people feel inadequate and worthless. Like they need

to change themselves to fit this unattainable mold. In addition, comparing body types leads

certain people to develop a mental health disorder known as body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphia

is when individuals see themselves, but their mind tricks them into thinking they look differently.

Other effects of body comparisons are eating disorders. People may think if they eat differently

or eat less, they can reach their desired body type. This mindset gives rise to eating disorders

such as anorexia and binge eating, which are incredibly unhealthy. Even more physical and

mental health issues arise from eating disorders and low self-esteem.

In recent years, numerous studies have shown the growing depression in adolescents that

may be tied to social media. In 2020, a study was done in Indonesia that surveyed 709 university

students on their social media activity and depressive symptoms they experienced. The

procedure and results were discussed in the scholarly article, “Social Media Addiction and

Mental Health Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia,” by

Sujarwoto. The results found that 72% of the people surveyed were mildly depressed

(Sujarwoto). This test means that the majority of the young adults attending these universities

had depressive symptoms that could be linked to the amount of time spent on social media.

Social media is easy to turn to when bored, feeling bad, or getting out of an awkward situation.

Robinson and Smith describe it as a “security blanket” that users turn to whenever there is a lull.

Using social media excessively also prevents meaningful face-to-face interaction. The

article “Social Media and Mental Health” talks about how real-life, in-person contact with other

human beings is essential for mental strength. If individuals put social media interaction before

face-to-face interaction, it increases their likelihood of having anxiety and depression (Robinson

and Smith). Interacting with peers can bring joy, boost mood, and increase mental health. Going
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without that real connection creates a void that cannot be filled or supplemented with online

interactions. Surface-level interactions on social media do not have the same impact as talking

with someone that genuinely cares about your well-being, so trying to get that same mood boost

just won’t work. Anxiety and depression can happen when no one is there to talk to and gain

support from. These mental health disorders and other factors can lead to self-harm and even

suicide.

Social media can be used anonymously by virtually any person, anywhere. The ability to

hide behind a screen and say anything with no consequence is what allows cyberbullying to

occur. Statistics show that around 10 percent of adolescents reveal that they have fallen victim to

cyberbullying on social media. Even more users than that describe how offensive comments have

previously attacked them (Robinson and Smith). Words do hurt. Even if it is intended to be a

joke, the person receiving the hurtful comments can take them to heart. Many people seek

validation on social media, but when they receive non-supportive comments, they begin to feel

inadequate, outcasted, and alone. Being bullied and not feeling accepted can lead to depression,

self-harm, or suicide. Social media is also a place where individuals can share their thoughts of

self-harm and suicide and even provide pictures and videos of their harmful behavior. Various

studies have shown that different social media platforms have allowed and even normalized

vivid depictions and videos of self-harm acts and suicidal behavior (Abi-Jaoude). These

depictions of self-deprecating acts promote harmful activities that can lead to death. It is not a

situation that anyone should take lightly; individuals should use these sites to promote mental

health and resources that can be used to help people that have thoughts and actions that are

detrimental to their well-being. Social media can be a dark and scary place for many young

people struggling with mental health and contemplating life.

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While social media has a lot of negative aspects, there are great things about it too. Social

media can bring together people from all over the world to connect and share ideas. It isn't a real-

life connection, but it is a connection. Some kids find it challenging to fit in at school or in their

community. In these instances, social interaction online can be a haven for them to feel accepted

and have friends. Additionally, some kids are isolated geographically and can only find

relationships online (Miller). Physical isolation was also the case during the COVID-19

pandemic. Stay-at-home orders were put in place all over America and the world. As a result,

human interaction was limited to those in your household, so social media and online

connections were what helped people feel united. In these situations, social media can be a

blessing and a way for these adolescents to stay involved and have friends.

Increased social media can lead to depressive symptoms in some people. However, the

article, “Does Social Media Cause Depression?” discusses a study that shows connecting

frequently offline, as well as on social media creates a lifestyle that does not increase mental

health problems that interacting solely online would (Miller). A healthy balance between real-life

interaction and social media can be suitable for some people. There are also ways to combat the

adverse effects of social media use. The article “Social Media and Mental Health” outlines four

steps that can be used to prevent mental health issues and engage in healthy social media use.

The first step is to reduce time spent on social media by disabling notifications, setting goals to

use social media less, not bringing your smartphone to bed, and deleting the apps altogether if

needed. The second step is to change your focus and think about why you are using social media.

If you are using it for boredom, out of habit, or feeling bad about yourself, try and find

something more rewarding to do. The third step is to substitute the time spent on your phone

with real-life interactions with friends. The fourth and final step is to practice showing gratitude
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for the good things in your life. When noticing blessings, it is easier to find joy and fulfillment in

life (Robinson and Smith). Social media can’t replace real-life experiences and relationships, so

it is essential to satisfy those needs to improve mental health. The newspaper article, “Mental

Health Decline in Girls Made Worse by Social Media,” also suggested wellbeing funding and

mental health teaching be provided in schools to help students understand and combat depressive

symptoms. While some good things about social media, the downsides are far more significant.

Social media harms the mental health of adolescents. Many studies show a correlation

between increased social media use and depression. Social media can make people feel isolated

and miss out on others’ experiences. It also decreases self-esteem, leading to eating disorders,

self-harm, and suicide. Social media has other drawbacks: sleep deprivation, lack of physical

activity, reduced productivity, and poor concentration. These things can be awful for students

that need to focus on their education and growth. Mental health is an essential aspect of

adolescents’ well-being, and excessive social media use does not help.

Works Cited
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Abi-Jaoude, Elia, et al. “Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health.” CMAJ:

Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 192, no. 6, Feb. 2020, p. E136. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1503/cmaj.190434. Accessed 1 Nov. 2021.

Arthi Nachiappank. “Mental Health Decline in Girls Made Worse by Social Media.” Times, The

(United Kingdom), Jan. 2021, p. 15. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nfh&AN=7EH166522685&site=ehost-live. Accessed 1 Nov. 2021.

Franki, Richard. “Social Media May Be Isolating Young Adults.” MDedge Psychiatry, Frontline

Medical Communications Incorporated, 8 Mar. 2017,

https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/133020/practice-management/social-media-

may-be-isolating-young-adults. Accessed 7 Nov. 2021.

Miller, Caroline. “Does Social Media Cause Depression?” Child Mind Institute, 27 Sept. 2021,

https://childmind.org/article/is-social-media-use-causing-depression/. Accessed 1 Nov.

2021.

Robinson, Lawrence, and Melinda Smith. “Social Media and Mental Health.” HelpGuide.org, 7

Oct. 2021, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-

health.htm#. Accessed 1 Nov. 2021.

Sujarwoto, et al. “Social Media Addiction and Mental Health Among University Students During

the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia.” International Journal of Mental Health and

Addiction, 2021, p. 1. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s11469-021-00582-3. Accessed 1 Nov.

2021.

"The Evolution of Social Media: How Did It Begin, and Where Could It Go Next?"

Maryville Online, Maryville University, 3 Mar. 2021,

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online.maryville.edu/blog/evolution-social-media/. Accessed 1 Nov. 2021.