According to a study by the University of Cambridge and reported on by the Evening Standard, almost half of teenagers in Britain feel they are addicted to social media. Statista, in a 2023 survey, found that feelings of addiction were higher amongst female teens than males.
UK Addiction Treatment Centres defines addiction as “a chronic condition that affects the brain and its ability to process reward”. People, especially youngsters, can become addicted to social media, which is a type of behavioural addiction. Having social media addiction means they are unable to reduce or stop their consumption because they are so engaged and consumed by these platforms.
Some of the signs and symptoms of social media addiction include:
- Spending more time than usual on social media.
- Checking social media compulsively.
- Getting angry, anxious, irritable, upset or withdrawal symptoms if unable to use social media.
- Pre-occupied with social media, even when not online.
- Neglecting hobbies, activities and interests enjoyed previously.
- Neglecting in-person connections and relationships for those online.
- Behavioural and emotional changes.
Like any addiction, social media addiction can have implications for young people’s mental health and lead to:
- Depression and anxiety – using social media excessively has been linked with anxiety and depression. A major international study led by researchers at the University of Derby found that it can cause daytime sleepiness and depression symptoms. A study by Kelly, et al. (2019) found a greater association between using social media and symptoms of depression was higher for girls than boys.
- Low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness – an article by BBC News suggested that heavy use of social media is associated with low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness.
- Physical impacts – heavy use of social media can have physical impacts such as sleep disruption, a lack of exercise, obesity, eating disorders and other health issues. If young people scroll through social media late at night or before bed, it can have emotional effects, and exposure to blue light from screens can impact their sleep quality. A lack of sleep can have health effects and also lead to mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. Physical health and mental health are connected, thus neglecting one area will impact the other.
- Social impacts – excessive use of social media can have social implications and result in withdrawal, isolation and loneliness, which can significantly impact young people’s mental health.
- Increased suicide risk – according to findings by Sedgwick, et al. (2019), “current evidence suggests that excessive or ‘problematic’ use of social media/internet does impact suicide risk, specifically increasing the risk of suicide attempts”. If a young person is experiencing cyberbullying or is depressed, anxious, lonely or self-harms, it can increase the risks.
So, why can social media be addictive? Like any addiction, when young people use social media platforms, the brain releases feel-good chemicals, such as the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with the brain’s reward centre and pleasure. According to the NHS, these feelings are enjoyable and create a strong urge to repeat the behaviour. Other risk factors can increase the risks of addiction, such as genetic, social, biological and physical/mental health.
Body Image and Self-Esteem
There are many definitions of body image. Young Minds defines it as:
“How we think and feel about ourselves physically, and how we believe others see us.”
Body image can be positive or negative. When someone has a positive body image, they feel comfortable with their body and accept how they look. On the other hand, when someone has a negative body image, they can feel uncomfortable with their body and want to alter their appearance.
Self-esteem is:
“How we value and perceive ourselves. It’s based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which can feel difficult to change. We might also think of this as self-confidence” (Mind).
Self-esteem can be high or low. High self-esteem is where someone has confidence in themselves and their abilities and worth. When a person has low self-esteem, they do not have the confidence or belief in themselves, mainly focus on their weaknesses and constantly believe they do not measure up to others.
Social media can influence young people’s body image perceptions and self-esteem in positive or negative ways, for example:
Positives
- It can encourage body positivity. Various platforms, groups and movements promote body diversity, inclusivity and self-acceptance and challenge societal beauty standards and discrimination.
- It provides opportunities for young people to connect with people and get support from like-minded communities.
- It can improve body satisfaction if young people see others celebrating their own bodies and imperfections.
Negatives
- It can make young people consistently compare themselves with others, especially girls and young women. It can lead to them feeling dissatisfied with their own appearance, which can lead to a negative body image, lower self-esteem, depression and even body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
- It can show unrealistic beauty standards, e.g. influencers or celebrities with seemingly perfect bodies or flawless looks. It can make young people feel inadequate if they cannot conform to the same standards.
- It can lead to cyberbullying, i.e. others online sending negative comments, abusive messages and body shaming. It can be hurtful for victims and can significantly impact their self-esteem and mental health.
Unfortunately, body shaming, comparison culture, and the promotion of unattainable beauty standards are widely prevalent on social media platforms:
- An article by Oakes (2019) for the BBC recognises that social media correlates with body image concerns.
- A survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation found that four in ten teenagers (40%) said that social media images had caused them to worry about body image.
- According to Laughter, et al. 2023, studies suggest that regular social media use can lead to unrealistic body image standards, anxiety and significant concerns about appearance. It can also worsen body image dissatisfaction, social media addiction, and comorbidities of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), e.g. depression and eating disorders.
