The Dynamies of Social Media Use and Adolescent Mental Well-being

Cases of mental health issues have been on the rise for over a decade now. Pertaining to the parents and other interested stakeholders, the uncertainty remains regarding the influence of social media usage on the growing mental health concerns. The issue is complicated, however. Although there is overwhelming evidence showing that social media can pose a grave threat to adolescents' well-being, conscious use aimed at making healthy relationships with others can be beneficial. Using data obtained through cross-sectional surveys, this paper seeks to establish the influence that social media has on positive as well as negative aspects of adolescents' mental health. This paper covers aspects like social comparison theory, cyberbullying, addiction, and the role of social media in providing support and enhancing social connections. The paper concludes with recommendations for mitigating the adverse effects and amplifying the benefits of social media engagement among adolescents.

Background

The social nature of people underscores the significance of relationships in enhancing the quality of people's lives. Thus, fostering social connections not only reduces stress, anxiety, and depression but also acts as a powerful protection against the risks of detrimental impacts of social disconnectedness. With the increased usage of social media over the past decade, there has been a massive shift in the social landscape of teenagers. These platforms provide unprecedented opportunities for self-expression, communication, and entertainment, but they also come with a myriad of emerging issues and concerns (O’Reilly, 2020). Amidst a significant period of psychological and social development, adolescents maneuver through the complexities of social media platforms, and understanding their impacts on their mental well-being is a vital area of research.

Adolescence is a vital developmental phase that is characterized by several changes occurring at the psychological and emotional levels. Young people, particularly adolescents, remain as a very active population of the society, who in their developmental stage are exposed to dynamic circumstances. New situations and experiences evoke different reactions from the adolescents due to the developmental changes of the teen brain (Reitsema et al., 2022). The response to such situations among the teens could however be different because the teen brain is still in its developmental stage, making them more susceptible to issues such as low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, and depression. These vulnerabilities can be further amplified by using of social media through different aspects such as cyber bullying, social competition, and the pressure to curate a perfect online persona. On the flip side, social media can strengthen social support and feelings of belonging – which is crucial in the adolescence stage (Biernesser et al., 2020). Furthermore, social media platforms can provide helpful information and resources regarding mental health and coping strategies. The paper aims to explore the impact of social media on adolescents’ mental health, providing an overview of the current research, identifying key issues, and offering recommendations for mitigating the negative effects and promoting positive aspects of social media use among adolescents.

The Prevalence of Social Media Use

Social media is a big part of daily lives of lots of adolescents. A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that 90% of teens aged between 13 and 17 use at least one of five social media platforms. The five social media platforms are: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Facebook. The survey also shows that 75% have active social media accounts and 51% log into social media each day. Digital devices and internet access have become rather common among adolescents, with two thirds of them owning a device. On an average, adolescents fixed near nine hours a day in the cyber activities. These statistics highlight the degree to which social media has become a part and parcel of the adolescents’ everyday life, shaping their communication patterns and potentially influencing their perception of reality and mental health outcomes.

Theoretical Framework: The displaced behavior theory

The relationship between young people’s mental health and their usage of social media can be explained through the lens of displaced behavior theory. This theory helps to understand why under stress, individuals who cannot handle the situation properly may perform actions which may have a negative impact on their overall well-being in the long run, but may be comforting at the moment. At its core, displaced behaviour theory posits that people have limited control and every time they are faced with certain conditions which might be stressful; they are likely to indulge in a certain activity which brings instant gratification, even if those behaviors conflict with their long-term goals (Karim et al., 2020). The displaced behavior theory formulated by Roy Baumeister a social psychologist was an early 1990 discovery. Baumeister also supported the opinion that self-control is such a thing which can be used up; thus, it is exhaustible. Lack of self-control whereby one’s ability to resist certain urges or give in to temptation is reduced makes people vulnerable to acts of self-destruction or make them engage in behaviors that are Irrational. Indulging in such negative behaviors for an extended period of time creates a vicious cycle where short-term relief from stress leads to negative behaviors that exacerbate stress and stress-related issues.

Regarding social media use, the displaced behavior theory suggests that adolescents who spend significant time on these platforms may neglect social interactions in the real world, including spending quality time with friends and family or even interacting with nature. Consequently, excessive social media use can replace social engagements and healthier activities, potentially increasing the risk of mental health issues (Karim et al., 2020). Adverse mental health consequences encompass feelings of loneliness, the onset of depression, diminished self-esteem, increased aggression, and numerous other issues. Moreover, social media shapes how individuals perceive and interact with their social networks, further influencing their mental well-being.

Negative Impacts

Spring 2023 marked the release of an advisory titled "Social Media and Youth Mental Health" by Vivek Murthy, highlighting the mounting evidence pointing to the adverse impacts of social media on the mental well-being (Shoot, 2023). Shortly thereafter, APA issued a corresponding health advisory. These two reports reveal that there is a correlation between the extended use of social media outlets and levels of depression and anxiety among adolescents. Research has estimated that when adolescents use Social Media for extended periods, they are predisposed to comparing their lives to the lives of others, particularly influencers and celebrities. These principles of an ideal life promoted by such influencers and celebrities through social media entice adolescents to work toward these unrealistic goals. This pressure then leads to adverse effects like social anxiety and self-loathing as people struggle to meet these unrealistic expectations (Goldfus, 2023). Furthermore, unfiltered exposure to distressing information and news can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and helplessness, contributing to a decline in overall mental health.

Another critical issue associated with social media use among adolescents is cyberbullying. Adolescent bullying is defined as a situation whereby a powerful individual takes advantage of a less powerful one, be it in terms of physical strength or terms of popularity among minors in the institution. Cyberbullying entails a similar modus operandi as intimidation but occurs where adolescents socialize in cyberspace. Thus, while cyberbullying is not different from traditional bullying, it can occur unlimited and may be more sustained due to the anonymity of the identity of the perpetrator and wider audience on social media platforms.

The PEW Research Center's 2023 survey revealed that nearly half (46%) of American adolescents aged 13 to 17 have encountered online bullying or harassment. Different kinds of cyberbullying that the adolescents in the survey said that they had encountered include exclusion, harassment, cyberstalking, and impersonation. Commonly, cyberbullying occurs when a teen posts or transmits false or hurtful content regarding a peer or divulges someone else's personal information with the purpose of causing public humiliation or embarrassment. Research indicates that adolescents who are cyberbullied are more likely to suffer from significant psychological trauma (Goldfus, 2023). The public nature of social media can amplify the impact of bullying incidents, making them more humiliating and harder to escape. Also, the continuous accessibility of social media means that the victims have little respite from their tormentors, leading to a persistent state of anxiety and fear.

Positive Impacts

Although social media use poses negative effects, it may also have some advantages. The Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) is one of the most suitable theories that can be used to explain how social media positively affects adolescent mental health. UGT differs from other media theories in that it is oriented towards the media consumer rather than the media and the messages the latter spreads (Camilleri & Falzon, 2021). One of the fundamental concepts of the Use and Gratifications Theory is that adolescents intentionally use social media to communicate with peers and interact with content that meets their needs and resonates with their ideals. This implies that adolescents can use social media platforms to maintain and strengthen their relationships with family, peers, and broader communities. By facilitating constant communication and interactions, social media enables adolescents to seek and receive emotional support from family and friends. This implies that when facing personal challenges, adolescents can share their experiences and feelings and receive advice from social media, alleviating feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Besides improved social support and social connectedness, adolescents proactively engage and seek information and knowledge using social media across a wide range of topics, including mental health. Social media offers many ways through which the youth can obtain a lot of information and materials to enhance their mental health knowledge. For instance, by joining an online community or group, adolescents are able to gain emotional support, feel that they are not alone in handling issues, and share experiences with other teenagers experiencing the same difficulties (Camilleri & Falzon, 2021). Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are some of the social media platforms that provide information about mental health, with both adolescents and members of the public sharing information on the effects of impulsive use of social media. By extending their reach to adolescents who may be deprived of traditional mental health resources, social media platforms can make significant contributions to the prevention, identification, and treatment of various mental health conditions.

Conclusion and Recommendations

A search through literature databases shows that there is positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent mental well-being. Negative aspects include anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying. On the other hand, the positive impacts include social support and access to mental health resources. Therefore, to surmount the social ills occasioned by social media while at the same time addressing the effect of the same to the adolescent’s mental health, then there is need for a change of the approaches taken by the parents, guardians and teachers. To achieve this the following must be supported: Digital literacy and Critical thinking. Teachers should include in the curriculum such sections as understanding of the privacy settings, assessment of reliable sources, and the impact social networks have on mental well-being. When taught digital literacy and critical thinking skills, adolescents might become more prudent in what they interact with online and subsequently refrain from indulging in toxic content, such as negative social comparisons and other unhealthy behaviors. The other evidence-based practice in reducing the negative consequences of the use of social media is encouraging a healthy usage of social media by adolescents. The amount of time children spend on social sites whether at home or in their free time should be regulated and set to reasonable hours that should not affect other normal activities like in-person communication, exercising, among others. Through these comprehensive strategies, adolescents can be effectively supported in navigating the digital world safely and healthily, enhancing their overall mental well-being.