Social Media and its Effect on Mental Health in Teens

Crystina Williams, Prosser Career Academy, Junior, Spring 2025

Teens use social media as an escape, to tune out of the real world, into a virtual reality. These platforms provided on smartphones, ipads, and computers serve multiple purposes: they help pass time, offer insight into self reconstruction, format identity to connect with the outside world. TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram have become the main trending apps that connect with the youth–creating digital hangout spots for teens with similar interests.  According to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 that was conducted in Fall 2024,“Most teens use social media and have a smartphone, and nearly half say they’re online almost constantly, up from 24% a decade ago” (Faverio & Sidoti, 2024). 

However, like anything else, there are side effects to take awareness of. The pull that social media has is undeniably  strong. With overuse, toxic comparison traps, risks of the chances of cyberbullying, overall mental draining, and other struggles may eventually affect the body and mind further. Dr. Carol Vidal, a psychiatrist working with teens, noted, "...excessive social media use is associated with behaviors, such as poor sleep, increased social comparisons, impact on learning, and exposure to cyberbullying and negative content”, (Vidal & Katzenstein in Johns Hopkins Medical School Blog, 2023). 

The educational sphere has not been immune to the influence of social media. Karina Maxinez, English teacher at Prosser Career Academy, notes, “Students’ academic engagement has noticeably declined since the development of AI-driven social media algorithms.”  These advanced algorithms, designed to expand user engagement, may inadvertently encourage reliance on digital tools, differing how teens approach problem-solving and learning. By staying  informed and involved, parents, educators, and teens themselves can strike a balance– Eduardo Lopez, a Machine Technology Instructor at Prosser Career Academy, currently pursuing his Doctorate in Instructional Technology believes that “ Schools should promote healthy habits, model respectful online behavior, and teach students how to think about what they see online.” Navigating this digital landscape, measures should be set whether its limiting screen time, and encouraging open conversations about social media usage could be an effective practice for creating a healthy relationship with technology. Encouraging media literacy, responsible usage, and offline engagement can help teens harness the benefits of social media while avoiding its potential difficulties.

List Sources:Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024 | Pew Research Center

Social Media and Mental Health in Children and Teens 2nd link

Karina Maxinez, English Teacher Karina Maxinez

Eduardo Lopez, Machine Tech Instructor Eduardo Lopez