Before you get started reading, pull out your phone. Go to your settings and check your screen time. The numbers might shock you; the research on screen might shock you as well.

According to UC Davis study of “Cultivating Health,” in 2023, an estimated 4.9 billion people used social media worldwide. Of these users, the average person's social media usage was 145 minutes daily.  For teens particularly, researchers are finding this amount of exposure cannot only be addictive but is affect teen’s mental health in a negative way. 

Early research is beginning to show that internet use may have different effects on cognitive and social functioning at different ages. According to McLean Hospital, the earlier that teens start to use social media, the greater the impact it has in their mental health. Such studies have found a strong connection between heavy social media usage and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Excessive internet use could also have indirect effects such as interfering with sleep or reducing academic or real-life, face-to-face social interactions.

The huge amount of easily accessible information paired with the changing way teens access it may be affecting their memory processes. The constant steam of online information and images across multiple media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, SnapChat, Facebook, and YouTube encourages teens to constantly switch attention and multi-task, rather than maintain focus. This barrage of content may be affecting their ability to concentrate. Research is beginning to show this behavior may be contributing to teens' increased distractibility and a lowered ability to sustain attention.

A study at the University of Pennsylvania found that a high use of social media increases feelings of loneliness rather than decreases it. The study reports that reducing social media use can actually make you feel less lonely, isolated and improve your overall wellbeing. Once a teen lets go of their device, now they can really connect with their peers and the people around them. Despite the advertising the ability to connect with friends and family more easily through social media, the fact of the matter is, humans need face-to-face interactions to be mentally healthy.

Understandably, not every teen that uses or is exposed to the media will be affected the same. But knowing about the impact it can have on oneself is very vital for physical and mental health. So, instead of being on a device all day, go outside and enjoy the world, hang out with friends, try to join a club or a sport, maybe even try to do something as simple as having a conversation with that person you sit next to in class. You might be surprised how much better it can make you both feel.