Social Media, Teens and Mental Health

A Pew Research Center study highlights a paradox: Teens credit social media with keeping them connected, yet nearly half believe it harms their generation’s mental health.

Key insights:

Connection vs. harm: 74% of teens feel more connected to friends through social media, but 48% say it mostly hurts people their age — up sharply from 32% in 2022.

Girls feel it more deeply: Teen girls are more likely than boys to report negative effects on mental health, confidence, and sleep.

Parents worry more than teens: 55% of parents are very concerned about teen mental health, compared with 35% of teens.

Information, not therapy: One in three teens use social media for mental health info — but that’s not the same as real support.

As a therapist, I see this split every day: the same platforms that bring joy and belonging can also fuel comparison, anxiety, and exhaustion.

The takeaway? Parents and teens need open conversations — not just about screen time, but about how scrolling makes them feel. Social media isn’t going away. But with guidance, boundaries, and professional support when needed, it doesn’t have to define a teen’s sense of self.

In healing...

Carol

Photo by Lesli Whitecotton on Unsplash