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Introduction.
Social media is everywhere these days—on our phones, computers, and even our smartwatches. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat help us keep in touch with friends, share cool stuff, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends. But with all this screen time, it’s worth asking: Is social media doing more harm than good?
The Good Stuff.
Staying Connected: Social media enables us to stay connected, share our experiences, celebrate special moments, and catch up on people's lives even when they're far away.
Learning and Awareness: Platforms offer valuable learning opportunities, allowing users to explore educational content, learn about cultures, and stay updated on global events.
Creative Outlets: Social media provides a platform for sharing creativity, receiving feedback, and discovering new hobbies or talents.
Finding Support: Connecting with similar people through groups is a simple way to find people who share your passion for a specific hobby or interest.
The Not Great Stuff.
Mental Health: Excessive social media usage can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, as it encourages comparison and self-doubt.
Privacy Problems: Sharing personal information online can lead to misuse, so it's crucial to be cautious about what you post and who sees it.
Fake News: Social media can spread misinformation and cut off diverse viewpoints and important conversations by following people who share similar ideas.
Getting Distracted: It’s easy to lose track of time while scrolling through your feed. This can take time away from other important activities like studying or hanging out with friends in real life.
Social Media Tips for Teens.
Social media is a big part of connecting with friends and staying updated, but it’s important to use it wisely to keep it positive and healthy.
Why It’s Important: Spending too much time online looking at celebrities or following diet trends can hurt your self-esteem. Many pictures are edited to look perfect, which isn’t real. These images can make you feel like you’re not good enough and even lead to unhealthy habits (NHS, 2023).
Simple Tips for Safe Social Media Use:
Set Time Limits: Keep track of how much time you spend online. Use apps that help remind you to take breaks.
Follow Uplifting Accounts: If someone’s posts make you feel bad about yourself, it’s okay to unfollow them. Follow accounts that make you feel good.
Remember the Highlights: Social media often shows the best parts of people’s lives. Everyone has ups and downs, but you usually only see the highlights online. Don’t compare your everyday life to others’ edited posts.
Protect Your Privacy: Adjust your privacy settings so only the people you choose can see your posts. Even then, be careful about what you share.
Be Careful with Security: Change your passwords regularly to keep your accounts safe from hackers. Avoid sharing too much personal info online.
Think Before You Click: If you wouldn’t talk to a stranger in real life, don’t chat with them online. Stay safe by being cautious about who you interact with.
Using social media smartly helps you enjoy the good parts while avoiding the pitfalls. Stay connected, but remember to keep things balanced and safe!
For more information, we’ve used guidance from NHS CAHMS to help keep these tips practical and relevant.
Need a TL;DR?
Bailey Parnell explores how social media impacts mental health and offers tips to improve your experience online:
Highlight Reel: Social media often shows only the best parts of people’s lives, leading to unhealthy comparisons.
Social Currency: Likes and comments can affect your self-worth, making you feel valued only by online approval.
F.O.M.O.: Fear of missing out can cause anxiety about not being part of the latest trends or events.
Online Harassment: Bullying and harassment are common and can be more severe for certain groups.
Tips for Better Use:
Recognize the Impact: Understand how social media affects your mood and self-esteem.
Audit Your Feed: Reflect on what you follow and adjust to include positive content.
Curate Your Experience: Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad and focus on uplifting content.
Bailey’s advice: Be mindful and proactive for a better social media experience.
A Tedx and a Ted Ed video on self reflection and the positive effects it yields.
Please always consult your regional health organization for medical & health information.
Visit the NHS website for health information (UK): https://www.nhs.uk/
What do experts say?
Recent NHS data highlights key issues with social media for young people:
Bullying and Safety: 12.6% of children aged 11-16 reported being bullied online. While nearly 2 in 3 felt safe, girls felt less safe than boys (56.1% vs. 69.8%) (NHS, 2022).
Mental Health: Children with mental health issues were more likely to be bullied online (29.4%) and felt less safe (48.4%) compared to those without such issues (7.9% and 66.5%, respectively) (NHS, 2022).
Young Adults (17-24 years): 15.3% experienced online bullying, with young women nearly twice as affected as young men (19.5% vs. 11.3%). 57.5% felt safe using social media, but young women felt less safe than young men (48.6% vs. 65.9%) (NHS, 2022).
Key Takeaway: Social media can be risky, especially for those with mental health challenges. Girls and children with mental health issues often feel less safe and more likely to experience bullying.
A dataset which provides data on experiences of social media by mental health of young person.
Find out more about this dataset at: digital.nhs.com
Notes:
Figure 5.3 base: 11 to 24 year old social media users.
Conclusion.
Social media is great for staying connected and expressing yourself, but it's important to use it wisely. To keep your experience positive:
Set time limits: Avoid spending too much time online.
Follow positive accounts: Choose content that uplifts you.
Protect your privacy: Be cautious about what you share.
Balance online and offline: Spend quality time with friends and family in person.
By staying mindful of these tips, you can enjoy social media while keeping your well-being intact.
This article contains public sector information from the NHS website licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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