Denise Middlebrook, PhD

Social media has both positive and negative effects on mental health that are not limited to the general population but that also affect the wellbeing of our tribal communities and especially our youth. With American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) youth suicide rates higher than any other ethnic/racial group in the nation, we can hardly afford to ignore the effects of social media on the mental wellbeing of our young people who access social media platforms as much as any other youth in the country. Social media platforms are not going away. That door has been opened wide and our youth have walked through it just like youth all over the country have.

So how do we protect our AIAN youth from the negative effects of social media platforms and embrace a technology that they interact with every day and that, if used thoughtfully, can enhance their lives? How can you, as behavioral health providers, help youth and their families negotiate the potential harmful effects of social media and develop positive ways to utilize the technology? Let’s look at the data and a bit of the research.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory that outlines scientific evidence pertaining to the effects of social media on the mental health of young people. This report provides several recommendations to ensure the safety of youth that policy makers, tech companies, parents, youth serving organizations, and behavioral health professionals can implement.

A link to the full Surgeon General’s advisory is provided here.

Summary of the Surgeon General’s advisory on social media and youth mental health

Current Levels Of Teen Social Media Use
Virtually all teens (95%) ages 13 to 17 use social media, with more than 1 in 3 reporting that they use it “almost constantly.” While most U.S. social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old, nearly 40% of kids ages 8 to 12 use social media. The advisory also noted the following information.

  • Adolescents who use social media more than three hours per day face twice the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes.
  • A recent survey found that eighth and 10th grade students spend an average of 3.5 hours per day on these platforms.

Negative Effects Of Social Media On Mental Health And Well-Being
Numerous studies show that higher levels of social media use among children and adolescents are linked to adverse effects, including depression and anxiety, inadequate sleep (which can dis-rupt neurological development and lead to depression and suicidal behaviors), low self-esteem, poor body image, eating disorder behaviors, and online harassment or cyberbullying. These risks are greater for girls versus boys and for those already experiencing mental health issues. Additional risks include the following.

  • Nearly 2 in 3 adolescents are “often” or “sometimes” exposed to hate-based content on social media.
  • Studies have found a connection between social media cyberbullying and depression among young people.
  • Teen girls and LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to experience cyberbullying and online harassment, which can lead to negative emotions.

Adolescence Is A Vulnerable Phase Of Development
The mounting evidence regarding social media’s adverse effects on youth is especially concerning given that adolescence is a critical period of development when different areas of the brain begin to integrate and the prefrontal cortex develops at an accelerated pace. In this phase, the brain is especially open to learning and growing, and teens may have intensified sensitivity to the nature of social media, according to the Surgeon General’s advisory. Adolescence also involves profound physiological changes — these young people are simultaneously navigating increasing autonomy, forming their identities, developing relationships, and more. Thus, the potential effects of social media during this vulnerable phase warrant particular attention.

Are There Benefits To Using Social Media?
In some cases, social media can provide social support from peers or others, which may be especially beneficial for marginalized young people, such as sexual and gender minorities. For instance, according to the Surgeon General’s advisory, social media may boost the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth by fostering connections with peers, facilitating identity development, and enabling social support.
Research also indicates that social media-based mental health interventions may be useful tools for kids and teens, and they may help young people learn to seek help or professional care when needed. In this sense, social media platforms could serve as a gateway to mental health care or at least online social support as a buffer against stressors.

How To Protect Teens On Social Media
While social media offers benefits for some, growing evidence of its potential harm to many children and youth has led the Surgeon General to issue an urgent, cross-sector call to action.

For Policymakers

  • Strengthen protections to ensure greater safety for children interacting with all social media platforms, such as developing age-appropriate health and safety standards, requiring a higher standard of data privacy for children, and strengthening and enforcing age minimums.
  • Ensure technology companies share data relevant to the health effects of their platforms.
  • Support increased funding for future research on both the benefits and harms of social media use and other technology and digital media use for children, adolescents, and families.

For Technology Companies

  • Conduct and facilitate transparent and independent assessments of the impact of social media products and services on children and adolescents.
  • Prioritize user health and safety in the design and development of social media products and services to minimize harm to children and adolescents.
  • Create effective and timely systems and processes to investigate requests and complaints from young people, families, educators and others.

For Parents And Caregivers

  • Create a family media plan with agreed-upon expectations to establish healthy social media boundaries at home.
  • Create tech-free zones and encourage in-person interactions, which may involve limiting use of devices around bedtime and mealtimes, prioritizing family relationships and building social bonds.
  • Model responsible social media behavior, as children often learn from what they see around them.

For Behavioral Health Providers

  • The following are ways that you can encourage youth you are working with to use social media in positive and affirming ways to promote and protect their mental health. You might use some of these tips to create social media messages and resources for youth in your caseloads and within the community as a whole.
  • Share Self-Care Tips: Social media is a prime place to share self-care tips with others. You can make videos or create picture posts to show how you care for yourself. Your ideas will inspire others to care for themselves as well.
  • Be an Example for Others: If you are positively talking about mental health, others will likely do the same. Use your platform to focus on positive vibes and lifting others up.
  • Post Your Story: Your life is inspirational. It’s a matter of sharing your special experiences with others. They can be learning experiences or motivational experiences. Either way, you are helping others when you share your story. This is an amazing way to connect with others and spread mental health awareness in the process.
  • Lead a Healthy Lifestyle: Leading a healthy lifestyle inside and out is beneficial for you, but it can also benefit others. When other people see you posting about your healthy lifestyle online, it gives them encouragement to take care of their body and mind.
  • Encourage Others to Talk About Mental Health: Talking about mental health is very important. It helps us to not internalize, and it helps us not to reach breaking points. We can lead steady, stable lives just by opening to others about our mental health challenges. It gives others someone to relate to as well.
  • Pick Positivity Over Negativity: No one should spread negativity online. Technology is a beautiful creation, and it is our job to make the most of it. We can do this by helping one another and giving encouragement to each other. Make other people smile. Be positive.
  • Be Supportive, NOT Judgmental: It is important to remember that your choices on social media affect others greatly. Do not spend your time online being cruel to people. Spend it supporting others. It is not your job to judge others online, so do not take on that role. Your negativity can affect someone else’s mental health in damaging ways. Use your platform wisely, and do NOT cyberbully.
  • Educate Yourself: So much information is available! Your education begins with you. If you want to know more about mental health, dedicate some time to research. Know the warning signs. Know the coping skills. You have all the resources you need via social media and online to find this information.
  • Start a Mental Health Blog: Another great way to spread mental health awareness is to start up a mental health blog. You can promote your blog through social media, and you can educate others on mental health through your writing of your own experiences.

Learn More About Social Media and Teen Mental Health