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10 Interesting Social Media and Mental Health Statistics

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Scroll, post, like, comment. Scroll, post, like, comment. Scroll, post, like, comment.

It’s a never-ending circle, that we’ve come to call a daily routine.

With billions of users all around the world,social media giants have, quite literally, taken over our lives. 

But how does this all affect our mental health? Could it actually be true, does social media cause depression

Shockingly, yes.

Avid users of social media platforms have a 60% higher chance of experiencing depression. According to social media and mental health statistics, teenagers and young adults were identified as those at highest risk. They are experiencing the emotional high and lows of their formative years, making them more susceptible to the effects of social media.

Social Media and Mental Health Statistics (Editor’s Choice)

  • Of all US teenagers, 95% have been reported to be on social media daily.
  • Approximately 86% of online teens post on social media consistently (at least six times per day).
  • A massive 77% of online teens and adults use Facebook.
  • 83% of adult internet users use social media on a consistent basis.
  • Reports that examine social media effects on mental health show that 32% of all time spent online (adults and teenagers) is spent social networking.
  • A total of 36% of teens and young adults log into social media platforms ten times or more a day.
  • Facebook has estimated that their average user spends 20.3 hours a month on their site.

Mental Health And Social Media: The General Facts And Figures

Let’s see what social media and self-esteem statistics we have prepared.

1. Reports show that 12th graders who use social media have 38% more chance of being depressed.

(Psycom)

In 2019, a countrywide analysis was made on children from the 8th to the 12th grade to ascertain how does social media affect teens

The results revealed that children that used social media for 2 hours a day or more, were 33% more susceptible to developing depression.

No wonder some parents are trying to fight this addiction. But it won’t be an easy fight:

2. Almost 93% of teens own a smartphone and use social media.

(Newport Academy)

Studies from 2019 that were conducted to find out the psychological effects of social media on youth suggest that 93% of teens own a smartphone. This is 11% more than figures showed in 2018.

This jump in smartphone ownership has also brought with it a rise in social media usage. Teens are primarily using their phones for social media.

So what does this mean in terms of social media and depression statistics?

Because of that, 82% of these teens were having symptoms of depression within a month of consistent visits to social media platforms.

3. From 2015 to 2019 there was a 30% spike in teens on social media.

(Child Mind)

According to social media addiction statistics, from 2015 to 2019 there has been a massive surge in teenage social media usage across the entire US.

In 2019 it was revealed that the 30% rise in social media usage had also brought about with it a 82% rise in teens suffering from depressive symptoms. Despite there being positive effects of social media on mental health, these effects were swamped under the more pronounced negative effects.

4. Almost 60% of teens and young adults look at their phones just before sleeping.

(Ed Source)

It has been reported that teens and young adults are using their smartphones more frequently. Mostly during the night.

58% of teens and young adults to be exact, have been found to be using their phones in bed, right before they sleep. Many users have even confirmed falling asleep while being on their phones. While this figure seems harmless at first glance, there is a dark side – the negative effects of social media on mental health.

Phone usage generates a form of unnatural light. This light mimics the effects of daylight. Which in turn results in the receptors of the human brain to be caught in a state of flux. The conscious brain of the individual telling the brain and body to rest. The light from the users phone instructing the body and mind that it is in fact daytime and they should stay awake. As you can see, this all leads to negative health effects, as stated by social media and sleep deprivation statistics.

Studies from 2018 and 2019 confirm that an average of 60% of all young adults and teens scroll social media for at least 60 minutes before sleeping.

They are estimated to experience 38% less sleep time than the rest.

5. Mental health occurrences in teens and young adults have increased by 29% over the last 2 years.

(Science Daily)

The instances of mental health occurrences have soared by 29% from 2017 to 2019.

But how does social media cause depression?

Although playing games on a phone isn’t an ideal use of time, going on social media can be a much more damaging experience for a teen or young adult. Social media exposes an adolescent to a myriad of dangers – from cyberbullying to information that causes distress. According to social media depression study, an adolescent can develop any number of mental health problems.

6. Reports say that 12% of US citizens are addicted to social media.

(Psychology Today)

According to stats from 2019, an average of 12% US citizens are officially addicted to social media platforms.

Social media is defined as a behavioral problem that leads to an individual becoming excessively focussed or concerned with the state of their social media account. That definitely lends weight to the argument about the consequences of social media.

Unfortunately, a total of 12% of US citizens are addicted to social media in this manner at present. Even more concerning is the fact that analysts predict that this percentage is set to rise over the coming years.

7. A total of 39% of students experienced cyberbullying in 2019.

(Comparitech)

In America, cyberbullying is a major problem. Figures from 2019 show that 39% of students have reported having experienced it.

The issue of cyberbullying is starting to become a worldwide epidemic, lending weight to the negative effects of Instagram, and other social media platforms. With more countries showing increasing stats to support the ever-growing scope of the issue, cyberbullying has become a hot topic for debate.

Many experts believe that increased social media usage is to blame for this problem because social media exposes such a large part of our personal lives, the platforms make for a perfect way for bullies to target and victimize on a more personal level.

The 39% figure for students experiencing cyberbullying is worrying, as this 15% higher than the statistics from 2018, which clearly shows that the problem is not only on the rise but is also not being addressed effectively.

Worse still, social media and self-esteem statistics predict an increase in cyberbullying. Government departments have been granted federal assistance in order to conduct research on how to reduce these numbers. Whether these measures work, is yet to be seen.

8. Studies show that kids aged between 12 to 15 that use social media are prone to develop depression.

(Technology Review)

As we’ve discussed so far, social media has a very strong link to the onset of depression. Almost any age demographic is susceptible to the negative psychological effects of Facebook, and social media in general.

However, one group that is truly at risk of developing depression-related symptoms from using social media is that of children aged between 12 to 15 years of age. This age range has been shown to be 5 times as likely to develop depression as any other group.

Experts say that during this age children are making the slow, and often tricky, transition into their teens and beyond. According to social media and mental health issues researchers, this time in an individual’s life is delicate as the psyche has not fully developed. They are in effect seeking their place in the world, and learning to know and understand themselves.

Therefore, being at a vulnerable stage of life like this, the last thing a child needs is to be spending time staring at their phone, not developing their actual social skills. In addition, social media is a very harsh and judgemental place for anyone, even adults. Which means social media health effects that can arise from the criticism or comments that children can possibly receive in an environment such as this, can have damaging effects upon their character.

9. Surveys show the 1 in 5 teenagers has experienced some kind of abuse online.

(Help Guide)

It was revealed that 1 in 5 teenagers in the US experienced some type of abuse online. Reports from social media anxiety statistics show that some of the cases were sporadic, others were consistent. All results showed that a large number of teenagers had experienced some kind of abuse online.

Below is the breakdown of the types of abuse teenagers have experienced online and the percentage of them:

  • Incidents of name-calling – 42%.
  • Spreading of false rumors – 32%.
  • Receiving unsolicited and explicit images – 25%.
  • Having their activities tracked by a third party other than a parent – 21%.
  • Physical threats – 16%.
  • Having explicit images shared without consent – 7%.

10. Almost 95% of American teens believe that online harassment is a problem for them.

(Pew Research)

According to social media cyberbullying statistics, harassment online has become a huge problem in today’s internet-obsessed society.

This problem has become worse since the advent, and rise in popularity of, social media platforms. These platforms have become gateways for online abuse and allow bullies to easily target their victims. In some cases, bullies have become more productive in their victimizations.

When bullies are online it’s easy to multitask and bully multiple people on different platforms, something that contributes adversely to mental health and social media statistics.

An average of 93.9% of teens in the US view online harassment as an issue that they have to contend with. In addition, an average of 63% of all US teens view online harassment as a major problem in their lives. Of these teens, many are already on treatment plans to combat their symptoms of depression.

To Sum It All Up

Social media and mental health statistics show that social media platforms are playing a major role in teenage depression. But demonizing the platforms may not prove to be the answer.

Social media also has some positive aspects that can’t be ignored. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram also host a huge amount of positive content. They can be an outlet or safe place for introverts or those alienated by their peer groups. Social media platforms can also provide channels for teenagers to express their creativity. This gives a positive angle to the statistics on social media and mental health in teens.

So, instead of shutting down, outlawing, or discouraging teens from using social media platforms, a better solution could be to encourage positive uses of the platform. Highlighting constructive uses and activities that pertain to the platforms would help. Making social media a safe environment would go a long way in making social media and mental health facts more optimistic.

People Also Ask

Q: How does social media negatively affect youth?

(The Conversation)

Social media can affect youth in many ways, social media and mental health statistics show.

It can increase their likelihood of being swayed by peer pressure as it puts users in an arena where social validation is highly valued. This can lead to low self-esteem issues, and mental illnesses like depression.

Also, social media exposure can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep-related problems, eating disorders, and can increase the risk of suicide.

Q: Does social media affect self-esteem?

(Huffington Post)

Social media can definitely affect self-esteem.

Prolonged use of social media has been proven to increase the risk of anxiety, depression, whilst decreasing social skills. Those are all precursors to serious issues of self-esteem.

The way social media purports a kind of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ culture. It shows images of people buying new clothes, going on lavish holidays, etc that all lend toward users feeling unfulfilled.

Q: What are the effects of social media addiction?

(Addiction Center)

Social media addiction has led to many adverse effects: dropping productivity, fatigue, stress, feeling the need to compare yourself, etc.

Q: What is social media anxiety disorder?

(UBC)

Social media anxiety disorder is an illness that affects the general well-being of an individual.

According to social media and mental health statistics, the condition has many effects, below are a list of some of them:

  • Fear to speak in front of groups
  • Anxiousness in social situations (online)
  • Intense fear
  • Trembling, swallowing with difficulty, and muscle twitching

Sources:

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