The Effect of Social Media on Teenager and Their Mental Health

Introduction

The topic which I have chosen to focus on in this essay is the effect of social media on a teenager and his/her mental health. Social media is ever present in today’s society and as a teenager growing into adulthood, I have experienced this first-hand. Due to how present it is, in the form of the various platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, it has even become a big part of a teenager’s development by shaping the way they think and how they interact with one another. In the course of this review I will be exploring both the positive and negative impacts of social media. For the negative elements of social media, I will be explaining how damaging social media can be towards one’s self-esteem and self-worth. However, I will also be shedding some light on the positives of social media and how it can make a difference in one’s perception of life as it prevents people from living in isolation and depression. It allows them to create and become a part of an online community if they are physically or mentally unable to socialize with others in person. It also raises awareness and breeds acceptance for the various mental and physical conditions people have preventing them from socializing with others in person.

Negative Effect of Social Media on a Teenager

Self-esteem

One of the negative effects of social media on teenagers and young adults was how one derived their sense of worth from the number of likes received. It was discovered that while there are teenagers who often use social media to allow themselves to feel more connected to their friends while still having a high level of self-esteem there are those who obsessively use it (Beresin & Olson, 2019). This is due to them experiencing fear of missing out (FOMO) resulting in them having a significantly lower self-esteem. FOMO may even be worse for those currently suffering from mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Their self-esteem was even linked to the feedback they received on the various platforms. When receiving positive reactions such as greater likes and comments their self-esteem grows however when they receive fewer likes, their self-esteem falls. With those who do have a higher level of self-esteem it allows them to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin however, with those who have a lower sense of self-esteem they will have a more pessimistic outlook on life and constantly tend to doubt their own abilities (Heatherton & Wyland, 2003) . According to a study conducted by the University of Copenhagen. (2016) , there is a condition known as “Facebook Envy” where Facebook users perform social comparisons feeling their self-esteem plummet when looking at their friends posts of them having a good time resulting in them suddenly feeling like their lives are so much better than their own. A study conducted discovered that longer amounts of time spent on Facebook meant that users had a lower sense of self-esteem and felt more isolated (Kalpidou, Costin, & Morris, 2011). Therefore, this results in them experiencing a lower sense of self-esteem and feeling badly about themselves and their lives (Bono, 2018).

Body-image issues

Another negative impact of social media is the idea of a perfect body and many experiencing body image issues and eating disorders. In the digital age, on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook social comparisons occur with the average person comparing their own bodies to the bodies of models and celebrities (Beresin & Olson, 2019). It was found that there was a connection between people obsessively using social media and eating disorders. This was due to by being thin and it being depicted as attractive it would influence people particularly young adolescent males and females into believing that being thin is the only way to be beautiful. (Wykes & Gunter, 2010). It was found that with longer periods of time spent on Instagram, it resulted in users experiencing body images and levels of depression (Tiggemann & Slater, 2013). It was also discovered that on the social media platform Instagram, by seeing peoples fitness journeys and transformations, it resulted in decreased self-esteem levels and worsened body-image views (Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2015). As a result this can lead to dietary restrictions which when taken too far can become eating disorders such as binge eating disorder and anorexia thus resulting in worsened body image issues (Derenne & Beresin).

Positive Effect of Social Media on a Teenager

Peer to Peer support

A positive impact of social media on teenagers and young adults is how they can find support in each other. This is known as peer to peer support where they can support and empathize with one another (citation). This is especially beneficial for youth who have problems socializing with others in person due to experiencing anxiety disorders as they could now do it over social media. Those who struggle with mental illnesses such as Depression, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder are using social media to connect with one another by sharing their own struggles and experiences. As a result, it forms communities amongst these people on the various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter (Gowen et al. 2012; Naslund et al. 2014; Miller et al. 2015). Humans naturally gravitate towards groups in society and by identifying with a certain group it increases one’s self-esteem by knowing that they belong somewhere. These communities then help them to build back up their self-esteem by promoting recovery and self-worth. By joining these communities, they will then be able to make friends with others in similar situations (Ferguson et al. 2011). Discovering these online communities and interacting with others through social media is what makes a key difference in their recovery as those connections can be the difference between living in isolation and finding support.

Raising Awareness

Another positive impact of social media on youths and young adult’s mental health is that it allows them to raise awareness for those with mental illnesses. It normalizes their illnesses in society and allows them to fight the stigma and negative perceptions of mental illnesses. One such example is the use of the hashtag #whywetweetMH being used as a research tool on twitter in connection with mental health organisations to highlight the struggles faced by those with mental illnesses (Beresin & Olson, 2019).It not only provided those suffering with their mental health a platform to share their stories but it also allowed them to fight negative social stigmas as well as raising awareness for their cause. It allowed them to be their most authentic self by exposing their struggles and normalising it amongst other Twitter users as they were now able to see how many people struggled with their mental health. However closer to home, according to a study conducted by Institute of mental health (IMH), it was found that in Singapore 1 in every 7 people would experience some sort of mental illness in their life and that it is way more common than we believe it to be.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social media has a profound impact on the mental health of teenagers and young adults. While there are negative aspects such as the detrimental effects on self-esteem and body image, there are also positive elements that provide support and raise awareness for mental health issues.

While acknowledging the negative impact of social media on mental health, it is important to recognize its positive potential. By understanding the potential risks and benefits, individuals can navigate social media in a way that minimizes harm and maximizes support and awareness. Education, open discussions, and responsible use of social media platforms can contribute to a healthier and more inclusive online environment, promoting the well-being of teenagers and young adults in the digital age.

References

1. Beresin, E. V., & Olson, C. K. (2019). Impact of social media on adolescent behavioral health. In Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews (Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 417-430). Elsevier.

2. Heatherton, T. F., & Wyland, C. L. (2003). Assessing self-esteem. In M. R. Leary & J. P. Tangney (Eds.), Handbook of Self and Identity (pp. 411-433). Guilford Press.

3. University of Copenhagen. (2016). Facebook envy can lead to depression. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160412081750.htm

4. Kalpidou, M., Costin, D., & Morris, J. (2011). The relationship between Facebook and the well-being of undergraduate college students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(4), 183-189.

5. Bono, C. M. (2018). Social media and self-esteem. Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, 1-4.

6. Wykes, M., & Gunter, B. (2010). The media and body image: If looks could kill. Sage.

7. Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2013). NetGirls: The Internet, Facebook, and body image concern in adolescent girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(6), 630-643.

8. Tiggemann, M., & Zaccardo, M. (2015). ‘Strong is the new skinny’: A content analysis of #fitspiration images on Instagram. Journal of Health Psychology, 20(10), 1389-1399.

9. Derenne, J. L., & Beresin, E. V. (Eds.). (2016). Body image, eating disorders, and obesity in youth: Assessment, prevention, and treatment. Routledge.

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10. Gowen, K., Deschaine, M., Gruttadara, D., & Markey, D. (2012). Young adults with mental health conditions and social networking websites: Seeking tools to build community. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 35(3), 245-250.