US teenager girls spend on average more than five hours per day on social media. What’s the impact on their mental health and personality development? Pay attention as a parent.
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— Michael A. Arouet (@MichaelAArouet) June 21, 2024
The impact of excessive social media use on teenage girls’ mental health is a topic of concern. Here are some key findings:
- Mental Health Outcomes:
- 41% of teens with the highest social media use rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor, compared to 23% of those with the lowest use.
- The highest use group is more likely to express suicidal intent or self-harm (10% vs. 5%) and have poor body image (17% vs. 6%).
- 60% of the highest frequency social media users with low parental monitoring and weak parental relationships report poor mental health, compared to 25% with strong parental monitoring and relationships.
- Strong parental relationships and monitoring significantly reduce the risk of mental health problems among teen social media users, even with significant screen time.
- Other Studies:
- A study of over 14,000 14-year-olds found that increased social media use predicted poor sleep, online harassment, poor body image, low self-esteem, and increased risk of depression, with girls more affected than boys.
- Social media use was associated with lower well-being scores during puberty and young adulthood, affecting girls around ages 11 to 13 and boys around ages 14 to 15.
- Numerous studies link higher social media use to depression, anxiety, inadequate sleep, low self-esteem, poor body image, eating disorder behaviors, and online harassment
As a parent, it’s crucial to provide guidance, monitor usage, and foster strong relationships to mitigate potential negative effects.
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