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: Social media can and does have a positive effect on children and teens, whether by teaching social skills, strengthening relationships or just being fun. Persistent use of these social platforms can also have a negative impact, particularly on the mental health and well-being of young users. Children, parents and teachers need to understand the full impact of social media use by adolescents and teens, especially the risks these services pose on their mental health. The tools, tips and resources in this guide can help ensure that the use of social media by young people strengthens their personal social network and improves their general mental wellness. Statistics About Social Media’s Impact on Youth Mental Health
The activity of young people on social media largely mirrors their lives in the physical world: children and teenagers navigate the streams of their social networks, establishing new relationships, strengthening existing ones, and sometimes minimizing or ending them. Whether online or in the real world, young people will encounter bad behavior, whether it’s directed at them or at someone or something else. How they respond to the bad behavior is an opportunity for them to learn important life skills. The Pew Research Center’s 2018 survey of U.S. teens determined that one in six teenagers have experienced at least one of six different forms of abusive behavior online: Name-calling (42%)
Spreading false rumors (32%)
Receiving unsolicited explicit images (25%)
Having their activities and whereabouts tracked by someone other than a parent (21%)
Someone making physical threats (16%)
Having explicit images of them shared without their consent (7%)
The survey found that 90% of teens believe online harassment is a problem for people their age, and 63% identify it as a “major problem.”