Guest Opinion | Lauren Albrecht: Teen Mental Health & Social Media: Benefits, Harms, & What to Do

May is mental health awareness month, and conversations about teen mental health and social media are happening on parent text chains, around the dinner table, and at pediatrician’s offices, just to name a few. In fact, last week, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health.

Mental health issues among youth are well-documented and have been on the rise. 

In 2021, 42% of high schoolers reported “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness,” up from 28% in 2011. Data from 2022 show nearly half of teens report using TikTok (48%) and Snapchat (44%) multiple times a day, and nearly one in five use YouTube “almost constantly.”  The data are discouraging. 

Is social media to blame?  

The answer isn’t straightforward. There are harms and benefits to social media. In 2017, psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge released a book, iGen, that ignited widespread panic among parents. She found that there seemed to be a correlation between the arrival of smartphones and teens feeling more depressed and anxious. Her new book, Generations, released last month (April 2023), shows us how new research backs up her hypothesis. 

As a therapist supporting teens dealing with feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and depression, I wonder about the impact of social media on their wellbeing. And in my work with parents of teens, the topic of social media is ubiquitous.

Some of the harmful aspects of social media are:

• Using social media as a distraction from doing homework and studying
• Comparing themselves to others in unrealistic and self-critical ways
• Experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out) when seeing friends socializing without them
• Exposing them to false narratives and misinformation about mental health

On the other hand, some of the benefits of social media include:

• Staying connected to their friends — think of it like the way us parents used landlines to talk to our friends
• Meeting like-minded peers and finding support groups
• Doing a deep dive into an interest or hobby
• Learning a new skill – how to apply makeup or build a unique contraption

Some of these benefits are particularly important for teens in marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ and people of color or teens who are socially vulnerable in general.

Could there be other reasons for the decline in mental health?

In my practice, teens today are very worried about their future. Between climate changes, racial and social unrest, and academic and social pressures, it’s no wonder our kids are stressed out and overwhelmed. Other explanations include unhelpful narratives about mental health and the pressure to feel good. The pressure to be perfect and attend the “best” college in order to get a “good” job are among the conversations in the therapy room. 

So, what can parents and caregivers do? 

• Talk consistently with your teens about social media
• Ask them how they feel after they’ve been on social media for long periods of time
• Have the family take a social media break, including parents! 
• Monitor cell phone use behind closed doors, if possible, and keep phones out of the bedrooms at night

And if you’re the parent of elementary-aged children, hold off letting them get social media as long as possible. Technically, kids are supposed to be 13 years old before signing up for a social media account.

In my work, I understand the challenges of monitoring and managing social media use. It’s not easy, and teens frequently say, “All my friends are on it.” That may be true, but it’s up to us to help them become aware of the harms and the benefits so they can choose. Social media isn’t going away, yet I’m hopeful that with support from loving parents and mental health professionals, teens will find their way in the complex digital world. 

Lauren Albrecht, MA, MSG, MHA, is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #135201) at the Institute for Girls’ Development and Flourish Therapy + Wellness Center in Pasadena.