Social media's impact on adolescents' sleep, mental health
Published:
Jan 23, 2025
,
08:58 p.m.
ET
Key Points
Social media can increase an adolescent’s risk of cyberbullying and negative self-image.
Excessive social media use and increased screen time can disrupt sleep patterns.
Social media addiction can also disrupt brain development and emotional reasoning.
Mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, can also develop.
A study in BMC Psychology found a link between social media addiction and sleep quality among adolescents. 1,670 Chinese participants took part in the survey. Social media addiction can negatively impact every aspect of an individual’s life. Not only can it affect sleep quality, but it can also cause anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
Social media addiction happens when an individual has the compulsive urge to access social media at all times of the day, including work or school. Most teens are addicted to social media. Recent statistics show that 40% of teens engage with social media. In addition, 70% of teens struggle with social media addiction.
This behavioral addiction has been a growing problem around the world. Countries like Australia have considered banning kids from accessing social media. However, the Parliament would have to reach a united vote for the ban to take effect. In the meantime, the U.S. has passed legislation that would make social media more kid-friendly with age-restricting access.
Depression
Social media can make some adolescents feel bad about themselves, especially if they compare themselves to others. Carefully curated social media posts can cause inadequacy and low self-esteem in some individuals. In others, it can create a fear of missing out (FOMO). Social media creates unrealistic portrayals of the users and their lives.
It can also create a sense of false standards that lead to feelings of depression or isolation. Adolescents feel that they can’t measure up to influencers or their peers. This can lead to emptiness, hopelessness, and dissatisfaction with one’s life. While social media can connect people, compulsive social media use can also create feelings of loneliness, which is another sign of depression.
Sleep Disruption
Some teens stay up at night to scroll social media, which prevents them from getting adequate sleep. Over time, social media addiction can lead to insomnia. Social media can also disrupt an individual’s sleep cycle with increased exposure to blue light.
This creates a vicious cycle that can interfere with rest. Social media and smartphone use can also cause cognitive arousal, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Blue light reduces melatonin production, halting the circadian rhythm and disrupting sleep.
Difficulty Describing Feelings
Social media can also make it hard for adolescents to express themselves. What they see on social media isn’t always accurate. Curated social media posts can cause a disconnection between one’s life and one's emotions. It can also make it difficult for them to express their true feelings or to connect to their true selves.
Adolescents might rely on superficial emotions to fit in with their followers or peers. They might feel insignificant compared to others who curate these perfect personas. The pressure to fit in might cause some adolescents to mask or change their personalities. They might struggle with sharing complex emotions as they fear being judged by others.
Exposure to Cyberbullying
Social media can increase an adolescent’s risk of cyberbullying. An adolescent could get bullied or harassed online but hide it from their family and friends. This can lead to feelings of isolation and low self-esteem. In severe cases, cyberbullying can cause suicidal tendencies.
Some adolescents might also find themselves as victims of harmful content, such as explicit material or revenge porn. They might find themselves with more anxiety and depression due to excessive social media use. In addition, cyberbullying and harassment can also cause paranoia personality disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. All the individual can think about is the harassment they might face on social media.
Physical Impacts
Excessive social media use can manifest in various ways. It can negatively impact an individual’s activity and overall health by decreasing their physical activity. They might spend all their waking time on social media, not getting the proper exercise they need. Scrolling social media can also cause eye strain, headaches, neck pain, poor posture, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Compulsive social media use can also contribute to body image issues and eating disorders. This stems from the chronic need to compare oneself to others on social media. That time could be spent on healthier activities. Spending time away from social media isn’t just good for the mind. It can also lead to an active lifestyle.
Brain Development
Increased social media use is a concern for adolescents. Their brains are still developing. The prefrontal cortex controls decision-making, emotional regulation, impulsive control, and social cues. Social media addiction stalls brain development, leading to impulsivity and poor judgment.
In addition, excessive social media use can contribute to anxiety, depression, poor body image, and eating disorders. Social media can also affect the amygdala, the brain associated with emotional processing. This can lead to heightened emotions and anxiety, especially when exposed to negative social interactions.
