Can Teenagers Really Find Solace in Social Media?

The world of social media has long been a subject of debate when it comes to its impact on young people's mental health. Recently, Instagram announced a new feature, Teen Accounts, aimed at addressing the harm social media can cause to teenagers. The feature includes private accounts for kids under 16, restricted settings that require parent approval, and silenced notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Dr. Shannon Bennett, associate director of the center for youth mental health, believes this is a step in the right direction. "The opportunity cost of using social media is sleep or in-person socialization," she says. "I think it's encouraging to see some effort being made."

But what exactly does this mean for teenagers? Is social media really the culprit behind their loneliness? According to a 2020 report, Facebook knew Instagram was harmful to youth mental health. Researchers found that 32% of teen girls said Instagram made them feel worse when they felt bad about their bodies. This is not the only study to suggest a link between social media and loneliness. In his 2023 report, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy named social media as one of the main reasons young people feel more alone. Social media is often seen as a way to connect with others, but some experts argue it's actually having the opposite effect. NYU social psychologist Johnathan Haidt believes that social media is contributing to a rise in anxiety and loneliness among teenagers. "Kids going through puberty online are likely to experience far more social comparison, self-consciousness, public shaming, and chronic anxiety than adolescents in previous generations," he wrote for The Atlantic.

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