Social Medias Effects on Youth Mental Health
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More than 1/5 US adults live with a mental illness.
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More than 1/5 youth (ages 13-18), either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness
Motivation
In the current era of technology that we are in, social media has become a huge aspect in our day to day lives. At the same time the rise in mental health awareness continues to grow, as the problem continues to trend in the wrong way. Seeing this issue, my research aims to clarify the phenomenon, and provide awareness to those eager to learn more about our current situation.
I along with many of my classmates and peers, have experienced mental health issues in some way. Although some peoples social media usage might be low, I find my self constantly on apps like snapchat and instagram viewing content or creating it. My realization of this has led me to want to learn more. The goal of this website is to inform my findings with the world and to spread awareness to the amount of social media usage we participate in daily.
Social Media and Mental Health: 10 Things You Should Know
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It’s estimated that, globally, 210 million people suffer from internet and social media addiction
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Teens who spend five or more hours per day on their devices are 71% more likely to have one risk factor for suicide
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Nearly one in five (19%) of 10 to 15 year olds have experienced at least one type of online bullying
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Limiting social media use to 30 minutes each day, can lead to significant reductions in symptoms of loneliness and depression
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Increased Facebook use is associated with a future decrease in mental health
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52% of students said social media made them feel less confident about how they look or how interesting their life is
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34% of young adults are afraid they will miss out on things if they don’t use social media
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92% of parents think social media/the internet is having a negative impact on their children’s mental health
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The more often young teens turn to social media, the more prone they are to developing an eating disorder
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1 in 4 teenage girls have edited a photo of themselves to change their face or body because of concerns about their body image
Mental Health Resources
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
