According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, there is growing concern about the impact of social media on young people, with about a quarter of teenagers having a negative impact on their mental health.
Research has found that many teenagers believe that social media may be harmful to people of age. The findings come as lawmakers and U.S. surgeons warn that social platforms pose a serious threat to young users, especially as mental health problems continue to increase among adolescents. The study conducted nearly 1,400 adolescents in the weeks of fall 2024.
Nearly half of the teenagers surveyed (48%) had a negative impact on people of age, up from 32% in 2022. But teenagers (14%) said this negatively affects their own mental health.
Teens are more likely than boys to report social media harming their mental health (25% vs. 14%), and they are also more likely to have a negative impact on their confidence (20% vs. 10%) and sleep (50% vs. 40%).
The report also highlights the increase in time teenagers spend on these platforms and how they are aware of the change. About 45% of teen respondents said they spent too much time on social media, compared with 36% in 2022.
But, at the same time, many teenagers say these platforms offer important benefits. Most (74%) say social media can help them feel more connected with their friends.
At the same time, parents pay more attention. About 55% of people report very or very worried about the mental health of today’s teenagers.
The report also points to the growth of adolescents’ tendency to turn to social media for access to mental health information. More than a third (34%) said they used the platform to learn more about mental health after the therapist influencer and others shared personal stories and suggestions online.
