Lecture Notes: Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health

Overview

• Researcher: Pew Research Center
• Objective: Examine teens' and parents' perspectives on social media's impact on teen mental health.
• Method: Survey of 1,391 U.S. teens and parents conducted from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, 2024.
• Demographics: Represents parents with teens aged 13-17 and teens living with parents.
• Approval: Reviewed by Advarra IRB.

Key Findings

General Perceptions

• Parental Concern: 55% of parents are highly concerned about teen mental health compared to 35% of teens.
• Social Media Impact: 48% of teens view social media as harmful to peers, up from 32% in 2022.
• Personal Impact: Only 14% of teens believe social media negatively affects them personally.

Time Spent on Social Media

• Increase in Awareness: 45% of teens admit spending too much time on social media, up from 36% in 2022.

Gender Differences

• Girls vs. Boys:
  • 25% of girls say social media harms their mental health vs. 14% of boys.
  • Girls face more negative impacts on confidence and sleep.

Positive Aspects

• Friendships and Creativity:
  • 74% of teens feel more connected to friends.
  • 63% use social media for creative expression.

Comfort in Discussing Mental Health

• Parental Comfort: 80% of parents are comfortable discussing mental health with their teens.
• Teen Comfort: Only 52% of teens feel comfortable talking about their mental health with parents.

Social Media as a Resource

• Information Source: 34% of teens get mental health info from social media, 63% of whom find it important.

Detailed Insights

Teens and Parents' Concerns

• Main Concerns: Parents cite social media as the top negative influence, while teens also mention bullying and social pressures.

Demographic Variations

• Race and Ethnicity:
  • Black parents (70%) show more concern than White (55%) and Hispanic (52%) counterparts.
  • Black teens more likely to be concerned about mental health issues.

Impact on Teens

• Negative Effects:
  • Social media negatively impacts sleep and productivity.
  • Roughly 19% of teens report a negative impact on mental health.
• Positive Effects:
  • Social media aids friendships (30% say positive impact).

Gender and Racial Differences

• Girls: More likely to report negative experiences like reduced sleep and confidence.
• Boys: Less affected by social media compared to girls.
• Black Teens: Experience more support and acceptance from social media than White or Hispanic teens.

Efforts to Cut Back

• Screen Time Reduction:
  • 44% of teens cut back on social media and smartphone usage.
  • Girls more likely than boys to reduce screen time.
• Self-awareness: Teens who acknowledge excessive screen time are more likely to cut back.

Conclusion

• Complex Relationship: Social media has both positive and negative effects on teens, impacting mental health, friendships, and self-perception.
• Ongoing Debate: Continued focus needed on social media's role in teen well-being, with attention to varying experiences based on gender and race.