While social networking sites, and screens more generally, are often singled out as being harmful to young people’s mental health, recent research suggests that there is no concrete evidence to support such claims.
According to professor Eiko Fried of Leiden University in the Netherlands and Margarita Panayiotou of Manchester University in the UK, there is no clear and direct link between the use of social media and the deterioration of young people’s mental health. The researchers examined numerous studies on the subject and found that the results were often contradictory and unreliable.
Indeed, many factors can influence young people’s mental health, such as family relationships, schooling and social environment. It is, as such, difficult to determine with any certainty the real impact of social networks on their mental wellbeing, they said.
“There is no concrete evidence that social media has negative effects on the mental health of many or most young people, and contrasts with some popular science accounts that are not grounded in facts,” the researchers stressed in a study posted online.
Nevertheless, it’s important to recognise that the use of social networks can lead to problems such as cyberstalking, misinformation, overconsumption, loss of self-confidence due to the use of filters, and body dysmorphia. Despite this, it should be noted that these problems are not new, and similar accusations already existed in the days when media like television and radio were viewed as propagators of negative influence.
“The key difference between experiences on social media and traditional media or school is that young people have not been banned from the latter. Instead, we have focused on implementing and evaluating initiatives that equip young people with important skills to help them manage their world,” the researchers noted.
Other courses of action
As a result, the scientists propose solutions to help young people use social networks in a healthier, more responsible way. For instance, they recommend that parents and educators talk to young people about the potential risks of using social media, and encourage them to think about their use.
The introduction of social-media education programmes in schools, to help young people develop digital skills and an understanding of social networks, could also be helpful. Finally, the researchers encourage social media platforms to take steps to combat cyberbullying and misinformation.
Moreover, a ban on social networks could have unintended negative consequences, Fried cautioned. “While social media can be challenging for them, they also serve as important systems for peer support, resource exchange, and destigmatisation,” the expert claimed.
Body positivity and mental health awareness are just two of the many topics evoked, and the researchers also highlight young LGBTQ+ people as “a vulnerable group in terms of poor mental health and suicide risk”, stressing the importance of certain aspects of social media for finding comfort and connecting with others.
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