Title: Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health | University of Nevada, Reno
Headings: Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health: Statistics, Tips & Resources
Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health: Statistics, Tips & Resources
Statistics About Social Media’s Impact on Youth Mental Health
Mental Health Conditions Tied to Young People’s Use of Social Media
Social Media and Mental Health: Tips and Resources for Teens and Children
Set Limits on the Time Spent on Social Media
Be Aware of How Using Social Media Makes You Feel
Avoid Falling into the Negativity Trap
Remember That What You See on Social Media Isn’t Real
Social Media and Mental Health: Tips and Resources for Parents
Keep Tabs on How Your Children Feel When Using Social Media
Monitor Children’s Social Messages to Ensure They Aren’t Harmful
Set and Enforce Guidelines for Children’s Social Media Use
Be a Stellar Example of Appropriate Social Media Use
Social Media and Mental Health: Tips and Resources for Teachers
Know the Signs of Harmful Social Media Use by Students
Provide Students with Positive Examples of Social Media Use
Teach Appropriate Social Media Skills
Social Media and Mental Health: Making a Positive Difference
Recommended Readings
Sources

Content: However, 20% of people who have at least one social media account feel they have to check them at least once every three hours to avoid feeling anxious. This phenomenon goes beyond “fear of missing out,” or FOMO. In fact, it now has its own name: social media anxiety disorder, as reported by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). The condition is similar to social and other anxiety disorders, which the ADAA states are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S. The symptoms of social media anxiety disorder include the following: Stopping to check social media in the middle of a conversation
Spending more than six hours each day using social media
Lying about the amount of time spent on social media
Withdrawing from family and friends
Failing in attempts to cut back on social media use
Neglecting or losing interest in school, work and favorite activities
Experiencing severe nervousness, anxiety or withdrawal symptoms when not able to check social media
Having an overwhelming desire to share on social media feeds
Another mental health disorder directly related to social media is “Facebook depression.” The American Academy of Pediatrics describes it as follows: when adolescents and teens who spend time on social media begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression as a result of “the intensity of the online world .” Aspects of social media that contribute to Facebook depression are friend tallies, status updates and pictures of friends enjoying themselves, all of which can make children with negative self-images feel worse about themselves. Many potential risks of social media’s impact on young people’s mental health are overlooked by parents, teachers and the young people themselves.