What impact does Social Media have on teenagers mental health?

I think social media impacts not only physical health but mental health. Many posts of models on Instagram lead to low self-esteem with many teenagers' body image. I believe depression and anxiety can be developed through social media and I’d love to research more into depth.   

In today's society teenagers are so connected to the virtual world. So much so that they forget how to reconnect to the actual world. Ever since social media became popular in society, the mental health of teenagers has drastically declined. This is because of the expectations influences form. So-called ‘beautiful’ models are praised by their looks and admired for how they use their platform to promote their body image.   

I want to focus on the negative side of mental health on social media. A big factor is the fear of missing out (FOMO) in social media. FOMO is a very common feeling in teenagers as people see others posting about their lives that might come across as them living better lives or having more fun. FOMO can cause you to become more addicted to your phone because you are checking for updates every few minutes. This can be bad because people take more risks for example while driving, missing out on sleep at night and many more bad effects. 

  

One of the biggest differences in the lives of current teenagers and young adults, compared to earlier generations, is that they spend much less time connecting with their friends and family in person and more time connecting through social media and other applications. Some people feel very confident behind a screen but offline feel as though they cannot fit in at school or with a group of people, so they prefer to stay online. 

Cyberbullying is bullying that uses digital technology in some way. Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person which could affect people’s mental health. Severe or long-term cyberbullying can leave both victims and bullies at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. Some signs of people being cyberbullying could include sad emotions, being secretive, wanting to stop using the computer or phone. If you know of someone being cyberbullied, you can help them by comforting them and other support.

 I’ve highlighted the key negative effects such as cyberbullying, depression, anxiety and FOMO. Mental health is precious so please look after yours.