Is our kids' use of social media making them unhappy? There is growing proof that social media use and depression are related. In multiple research, it was discovered that teenage and young adult users who spent the most time on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms had a significantly greater rate of reported depression than those who did not (from 13 to 66 percent).
Does this imply that TikTok and Instagram are to blame for depression? These studies point to a correlation rather than a cause. Yet it's important to consider how social media might be harming teenagers and young adults. The fact that an increase in depression coincided with an increase in smartphone use is one reason the association looks more than coincidence.
According to a 2017 research of more than 500,000 eighth- through 12th-graders, the percentage of students reporting severe depression symptoms rose by 33% between 2010 and 2015. The suicide rate for girls in that age range rose by 65% during that time.
Smartphones were first released in 2007, and by 2015, 92% of teenagers and young adults had one. The study's lead author, Jean Twenge, PhD, a psychologist at San Diego State University, notes that even when matched year for year, the growth in depression symptoms throughout that time period coincides with smartphone adoption.
Facebook and depression
When compared to earlier generations, one of the largest distinctions in the lives of today's teenagers and young adults is how much more time they spend communicating with their peers online, primarily through social media.
According to some specialists, the rise in depressive disorders is proof that the interactions people make online through social media are less emotionally fulfilling and make them feel socially isolated.
According to clinical psychologist Alexandra Hamlet, PsyD, the benefits of social engagement diminish the less deeply and empathically attached you are with other people. "The less likely it is to make you feel connected, which is something we all need, the more superficial it is."
Girls who use social media heavily but maintain a high amount of in-person social connection are an exception to the depressive correlation, in fact. According to the Twenge study, females who engage often offline and online don't see an increase in depression symptoms like those who contact less in person do.
Teenagers who are geographically isolated or who don't feel welcomed in their schools and local communities may find it difficult to interact with classmates offline. Electronic connectivity could save those kids' lives.
Teenagers who are geographically isolated or who don't feel welcomed in their schools and local communities may find it difficult to interact with classmates offline. Electronic connectivity could save those kids' lives.
Using social media and feeling alone
Another research of young adults in the country (aged 19 to 32) found a link between the amount of time spent on social media and feelings of social isolation (PSI). The authors stated that it is impossible to discern directionality. Specifically, "Do social media users who feel more isolated from others spend more time on social media, or do more frequent users develop PSI?" "Is it because the individual is spending less time on more genuine social experiences that would diminish PSI?" they asked if the latter was the case. Or is it the nature of paying close attention?
Observing that "FOMO is basically the fear of not being connected to our social environment, and that need to feel connected sometimes outweighs whatever is going on in the actual circumstance we're in," Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, says. We think less about being in the moment as we use social media more and more.
Instead, we can be preoccupied with questions like why we weren't invited to a party we saw on Instagram or with keeping an eye out for a friend's posts. Yet if we're always catching up on never-ending online updates, we're prioritising social interactions that don't provide as much emotional satisfaction and may even make us feel more alone.
Self-esteem and social media
Another explanation for the rise in depression is the decline in self-esteem, particularly among teenage girls, brought on by negative comparisons to carefully crafted pictures of individuals who appear to be prettier, thinner, more popular, and wealthier than oneself.
Dr. Hamlet says that "many females are inundated with their friends uploading the most ideal photographs of themselves, or they're following celebs and influencers who use a lot of Photoshop and have teams for their cosmetics and hair." That can be quite difficult for a person's self-confidence if that serves as their model of what is normal.
Indeed, image-driven Instagram shows up in surveys as the platform that most leads young people to report feeling anxiety, depression and worries about body image.
Curation of a perfect image may not only make others feel inadequate, it’s unhealthy even for those who appear to be successful at it, notes Dr. Bubrick. “Kids spend so much time on social media trying to post what they think the world will think is a perfect life. Look at how happy I am! Look how beautiful I am! Without that they’re worried that their friends won’t accept them. They’re afraid of being rejected.” And if they are getting positive feedback from their social media accounts, they might worry that what their friends like isn’t the “real” them.
Less beneficial activities
Teenagers' lack of physical activity and activities that give them a feeling of success, such learning new skills and honing their talents, may be another possible cause of depression when they are using social media.
Dr. Hamlet says, "If you spend a lot of time on your phone, you have less time for activities that can boost your self-esteem, sense of accomplishment, and sense of community." She continues by saying that kids who spend a lot of time on devices don't get much in return to boost their self-esteem. "Absolutely, whether you receive a notification, a like on a photo, or a follow request, you experience a little dopamine rush. But, those items are not gratifying and are addictive.
Concentration issues
The act of doing homework and other duties that need focus is another thing that social media disrupts. Teenagers now frequently interact with friends on social media while they are studying. People take great satisfaction in their ability to multitask, but research indicates that it hinders learning and performance.
Dr. Hamlet observes that multitasking is essentially impossible. "What you wind up doing is really just swiftly flipping between two things. The cost to the brain is there. Also, homework takes much longer than it should because of worse concentration and numerous interruptions, which reduces free time and increases stress.
Depression and lack of sleep
Social media use may have an indirect effect on mood in some cases. For instance, sleep deprivation, which can be caused by or made worse by social media, is one of the most prevalent factors in depression in teenagers.
According to research, 60% of teenagers use their phones in the hour before night, and they sleep an hour less on average than their friends who don't use their phones before bed. However, checking social media is not always calming or sleep-inducing because it emits blue light, which prevents you from falling asleep. Dr. Hamlet observes that scrolling via social media can quickly lead to stress.
According to Dr. Bubrick, social media can have a significant impact on sleep. "You set aside 5 minutes to check Instagram or watch TikTok videos, and before you know it, 50 minutes have passed. You sleep later than usual and feel more exhausted the next day. You have trouble focusing. Your performance has fallen off, and things only get worse.
How to reduce the damaging impacts of using social media
Although there isn't enough evidence to say that using social media causes sadness, there are many signals that it may be having a harmful impact on our kids. Hence, it is wise for parents to regularly check in with their children about their usage of social media, to ensure that it is positive and healthy, and to point them in the direction of methods to change it, if you think it is not. Watch out for depressive symptoms as well. Take seriously any indications that your child may be depressed if you notice them. Don't be afraid to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional and don't forget to ask your child how they are doing.
Guidelines for responsible social media use:
Maintain a healthy balance by ensuring that your children participate in offline social interactions and have time for activities that foster identity and self-confidence.
Disable notifications: App developers are becoming more aggressive with notifications in an effort to convince consumers to stop what they are doing and spend all of their time on their phones.
Stop letting them. Watch out for girls who are more susceptible to depression: Girls who are going through a difficult period or experiencing extraordinary stress should be watched out for.
When confidence is low, social media's negative consequences may be more noticeable. Teach social media usage with awareness: Urge teenagers to be open and honest with themselves about how they feel after using social media, and to stop using it.
Exemplify moderation and balance in your own media consumption: Set an example by giving up media so that you can spend quality time with your family, including phone-free dinners and other occasions. Though they may rebel, kids will nonetheless reap the rewards.
Pre-sleep phone-free time Enforce a rule prohibiting smartphones in bedrooms after a set time and during the night. Set a vintage alarm clock to wake you up.
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