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The talk of limiting access to social media for minors is rapidly evolving into action by the governing bodies in several nations that are concerned about the negative effects of social media on young people’s mental health. For example, in Australia, there is already a law stopping social media use for anyone under 16, as well as proposed laws in other countries such as France and the UK.
The UK government recently initiated a National Consultation inquiring whether social media usage should be limited for teenagers. There were also trial programs to limit teens’ screen time and social media usage.
Advocates of stricter regulations believe they can offer some level of protection for children against anxiety because of the addictive nature of social media platforms. However, some people argue that banning social media will not provide solutions to the underlying issues.
So, what do the studies say about social media and teen mental health – and would banning it really be an effective solution?
Why Social Media and Teen Mental Health Are Being Linked
Mental health issues have increased for many years with regards to young people. The NHS states that approximately one in six children, aged 7-16, currently experience some form of probable mental health condition.
In addition, young people today rely heavily on digital technology in their daily lives. According to research, teenagers in the UK use social media on average 4.8 hours per day.
Social media may be only one of many factors contributing to young people’s wellbeing; however, according to psychologists the digital world is able to amplify existing pressures which adolescents face as they develop their identities, self-esteem and social relationships.
These are all areas that continue to evolve at an extremely fast pace throughout adolescence. Repeatedly receiving online feedback (e.g., “likes,” “comments,” “follower counts”) can lead to social acceptance feeling like something that can be measured and visible to others in a way that was previously unheard of by prior generations.
Eventually, this can result in the creation of a strong comparative culture where young people begin to tie their self-worth to digital validation.
The Psychological Impact of Growing Up Online
Many teenagers find social media helpful in maintaining friendships, expressing their creative side and accessing mental health information and support. Therefore, we have to consider if social media itself is not the cause of harm to teenagers.
For example, 34% of teenagers report using social media to occasionally access mental health resources or advice.
The nature of many social media platforms, however, makes it difficult for adolescents to regulate their emotions as well as they would have otherwise been able to do.
Adolescents will likely experience several factors such as:
- Social comparison to other people’s idealised images whether those are friends, classmates or social media influencers.
- Worrying about being left out of social activities when seeing others post events or having conversations while online.
- Disruptions to sleep due to constantly checking and responding to messages and social media notifications throughout the night.
- Conflict from bullying or social issues that occur on social media and extend into after-school hours.
- Access to inappropriate or extreme content because of algorithms.
There has been research that links the use of excessive amounts of time on social media to an increase in psychological distress and a decrease in self-esteem among some teens. That said, there is evidence showing that moderate social media use does not clearly contribute to mental health issues among adolescents.
This type of complexity contributes to the ongoing debates at the policy level regarding how to address the potential effects of social media on teenagers’ mental health.
Would Banning Social Media for Under-16s Actually Work?
At first glance it appears that removing social media from younger teens would be an easy fix. If social media contributes to problems related to mental health, then we can assume that if we remove social media access, there will be fewer problems.
However, psychologists and child development specialists are concerned that behaviour often does not work that way. Young people today communicate digitally to sustain their friendships and develop their sense of self.
If they lose access to one type of digital space, they can easily transition to another digital space or even use the account of an older friend. Several professionals have expressed concern that by restricting social media for young people, they will simply migrate to unregulated areas of the internet. These areas are generally riskier than the areas that are currently regulated and monitored.
For these reasons, many organisations advocate for both restrictions on social media and for broader digital safety regulations, such as regulating features on social media that make them addictive and creating better ways to verify a user’s age.
This is therefore not an argument to suggest we ban social media. This is a discussion regarding how young people can learn to safely navigate digital environments.
What Young People Actually Need: Support and Digital Literacy
Social media will continue to be an integral part of modern life, therefore building resilience online by young people should be equally important as restricting access to it.
- Developing an awareness of digital issues such as, how algorithms affect what appears on a user’s feed and recognising when content on the internet affects moods.
- Emotional literacy which can helping young people identify feelings such as anxiety, rejection, comparison before they escalate.
- Setting healthy boundaries with technology and learning when to log off, how much time should be spent on screens and how to protect mental space.
- Support from adults offline. Young people have trustworthy adults that they can discuss their experiences online without fear of judgment.
Young people are far more likely to be able to manage the pressure of digital issues and maintain their own well-being when these supports exist.
A Debate That Reflects a Bigger Issue
Social media bans for under-16s are at the centre of an increasingly heated debate, however, this debate is the result of something much deeper – society is finally recognising how the emotionally charged experience of growing up in a digital environment affects children.
Children’s experiences with technology have changed faster than the systems that support them (parents, schools and government) have been able to adapt to.
Ultimately, whether we see bans, limits on use or stronger regulations implemented by governments, what is clear is that supporting teenagers’ mental well-being will involve understanding their digital environments, rather than simply ignoring them.
For many young teens, their digital lives are no longer disconnected from their real lives. Digital spaces provide the places where friends are formed, identities develop, and feelings of belonging are established.
Supporting young teens as they navigate these digital environments safely could represent some of the most significant discussions related to youth well-being in the years to come. If this is something affecting you today, contact My Solution Wellbeing to speak to one of our trained counsellors who can offer you support and guidance.
