Teenagers are finding it harder and harder to imagine their lives without social media.
Risk assessment is a skill that practitioners must possess, and social media might be a
novel factor to take into account. Although the claim is not well supported by empirical
data, teenage and professional viewpoints have a significant impact on how social
media use is perceived in relation to mental health. The use of social media by this
group carries risks, including privacy issues, cyberbullying, and negative impacts on
education and mental health. Ethical social media use, on the other hand, can increase
chances for communication and connection, as well as improve self-esteem, encourage
health, and provide access to vital medical data. Even though there is growing proof
that social media negatively impacts teenage mental health, there are still few empirical
studies on how teenagers use broader contemporary media discourses to express
themselves or how they understand social media, especially as a body of knowledge.
The widespread use of cell phones and other media by young people causes chronic
sleep deprivation, which impairs cognitive function, academic achievement, and
socioemotional functioning. Numerous cross-sectional, longitudinal, and empirical
studies have found a correlation between teens' use of smartphones and social media
and higher rates of mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicidality. By
employing open, nonjudgmental, and developmentally appropriate strategies, such as
education and hands-on problem-solving, clinicians can collaborate with youth and their
families to lessen the risks associated with social media and smartphone use.( Khalaf
2023)
Khalaf AM, Alubied AA, Khalaf AM, Rifaey AA. The Impact of Social Media on the
Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2023
Aug 5;15(8):e42990. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42990. PMID: 37671234; PMCID:
PMC10476631.
Since young people primarily use social media for communication and entertainment, it
has become an essential part of their digital interactions. As a result, it could affect them
in both positive and negative ways. One of the negative consequences of excessive
social media use is a decline in mental health. This study looks into how social media
use and the rise in mental health issues in Saudi Arabia are related. With a sample size
of 385, the population under consideration for analysis consists of Saudi youth. Data on
various social media attributes and criteria were gathered using a closed-ended survey
questionnaire. (Beyari 20230 To compare the impact of various social media features
on mental health, the researcher used the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) to
analyze data. Private and group chats and calls, post browsing, games, media sharing,
advertisements, likes, comments, followers, and pages are all examples of social media
features covered in this paper. The criteria in the AHP process that the researcher used
were communication, entertainment, information, social interaction, privacy, and
esteem. According to the study, privacy was the least important of these factors, while
entertainment was the most important. According to the findings, the largest factors
influencing poor mental health were likes, comments, and followers (total utility = 56.24).
"Games" was the least useful feature (total utility = 2.56). Because social media
features have a big impact on mental health, the researcher advises users to exercise
caution when interacting with them, particularly likes, comments, followers, media, and
posts.
Beyari H. The Relationship between Social Media and the Increase in Mental Health
Problems. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 29;20(3):2383. doi:
10.3390/ijerph20032383. PMID: 36767749; PMCID: PMC9915628.
Due to the globalization of communication and the post-pandemic rush to use multiple
social media platforms for education in various fields of study, students' use of social
media is unquestionably increasing. Even though social media has made it possible for
people to share ideas and feelings, the social support that it offers may not be sufficient
to meet students' emotional needs, or the purported benefits may not last. Numerous
studies have been carried out in recent years to investigate the possible impacts of
social media on students' affective characteristics, including stress, anxiety, depression,
and so forth. (Chen 2023) The current study examines the results of excellent
published research to provide insight into the possible advantages and disadvantages
of widespread use of social media on students’ emotional well-being. This review can
be insightful for teachers who tend to take the potential psychological effects of social
media for granted. They may want to know more about the actual effects of the over-
reliance on and the excessive (and actually obsessive) use of social media on students’
developing certain images of self and certain emotions which are not necessarily
positive. All those involved in student affairs, as well as professional development
programs and pre- and in-service teacher training, will be affected.
Chen, Miao, and Xin Xiao. ‘The Effect of Social Media on the Development of Students’
Affective Variables’. Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, Sept. 2022, p. 1010766,
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