Question

Why social media use among youth is a major concern which contributes to to depression and anxiety?

Answer 1

Young boys and girls need more sleep than adults do, so night-time social media use could be detrimental to their health. Research has shown that teenagers need 8.5 hours of sleep each night but on average they only get 5 to 6 hours. A lack of sleep can make teenagers tired, irritable, depressed and more likely to catch colds, flu and gastroenteritis.

The need to gain “likes” on social media can cause teens to make choices they would otherwise not make, including altering their appearance, engaging in negative behaviors, and accepting risky social media challenges.

Girls in particular are at risk of cyberbullying through use of social media. Cyberbullying is associated with depression, anxiety, and an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts.

connecting via texting, Instagram, and Facebook can include harsh judgments and comparisons. It’s easier to make statements on a screen that would otherwise be difficult to verbalize face to face. And disjointed shorthand conversations can easily result in misunderstandings. It doesn’t help that digital communication occurs at a rapid pace, one that is difficult to process at times.

One report by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK surveyed 1500 young people, ages 14 to 24, to determine the effects of social media use on issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and body image. Their findings showed that YouTube had the most positive impact, while Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and SnapChat all had negative effects on mental health.