Social media has its perks, no doubt! Whether diving into entertaining reels, keeping tabs on what your friends are up to, or catching the latest trends, there’s a lot to love. It’s a hub of creativity, connection, and endless information that keeps us all engaged.
But as much as we enjoy these platforms, it’s important to remember that they’re not all sunshine and rainbows. For teens, in particular, the very features that make these platforms so appealing can also have a darker side.
Many U.S. states believe that social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram, are ruining the mental health of teenagers. The two platforms are to blame for depression, anxiety, and other poor mental health outcomes in young people.
So, while there’s plenty to like, it’s worth taking a closer look at how the features of these apps might be affecting us beneath the surface.
#1 Filters and Photo Editing Tools
Aren’t you guilty of touching up your selfie before posting it? Or, haven’t you tried on filters while clicking pictures on Instagram? It’s all in good fun, right?
But things are different for teens. Young people, in particular girls, edit their photos before sharing them online. Most might consider this behavior normal since everyone uses filters. But this habit can damage teens’ mental health since they edit pictures to improve their appearance.
The pressure to present a flawless image online causes them to modify everything, from skin texture to body shape. A 2022 NIH study found that 28% of girls between 8 and 18 years old admitted to perfecting their pictures to look more attractive before posting them online.
Certain filters on Instagram are creative and fun. But most distort reality. They contribute to unrealistic beauty standards. Teens may begin to feel that their natural selves aren’t good enough, leading to a harmful cycle of self-criticism and anxiety.
#2 Infinite or Never-Ending Scrolling
Ever find yourself scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, and before you know it, hours have passed? That’s the power of infinite scrolling.
Meta has designed this feature to keep you hooked. It serves up an endless stream of content, so you never run out of things to see. This can be particularly addictive for teens because their brains are more sensitive to distractions and can’t detach from addictive experiences.
Scrolling with no end is like heroin for the dopamine levels of teens—they keep craving more and more. Quitting the app becomes hard.
Constantly consuming content can lead to anxiety, depression, and even feelings of inadequacy. That is because teens start comparing their lives to the seemingly perfect lives of others online.
Dozens of states have sued Meta for deliberately engineering Instagram and Facebook such that teens and children are getting addicted to them.
In the Instagram and Facebook lawsuit, states allege that the infinite scroll feature is hooking young people and contributing to a mental health crisis. The suit further claims that Meta assured the public falsely that its features were suitable and safe for young users.
According to TorHoerman Law, Facebook responded that its platform does the opposite and that it was unaware of the harm it has on the mental health of young people. Yet internal leaked documents say otherwise. The released data bears witness to the fact that Meta was aware of the mental health implications of its social networking sites.
#3 Stories
Instagram and Facebook stories are quick, disappearing posts that only last 24 hours. They’re fun and offer a way to share real-time moments with friends. But this temporary nature can create a sense of urgency—like you have to be posting or watching to stay in the loop constantly.
Teens often feel pressured to document every aspect of their day. They turn their life into a highlight reel.
The fleeting nature of Stories can also contribute to FOMO (fear of missing out). Seeing friends at a party or on a fun trip that you weren’t invited to can sting, especially when it feels like everyone else is having a great time.
#4 Likes and Comments
Likes and comments might seem like harmless feedback to you. But they are a big deal for some teens.
Newport Academy’s recent publication has revealed that the brain releases dopamine—a chemical associated with pleasure and reward—when a teen’s post gets likes, shares, or positive comments. This dopamine rush makes them feel good and encourages them to seek more of the same approval by posting again.
As teens chase those pleasurable feelings, this can lead to excessive social media usage.
On the flip side, when a post doesn’t get much attention, it can feel like a letdown, almost as if they’ve done something wrong. This can lead to anxiety and stress since they become more concerned with online approval than real-life connections.
At the end of the day, social media is just a tool. Whether these platforms have a negative or a positive impact on the mental health of teens depends largely on how they are used. Set healthy boundaries around Facebook and Instagram usage and guide your teen on building real-life connections. They won’t get addicted to social media platforms.