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Introduction
Social media has been around since the 2000s, but as technology has advanced rapidly, so has people’s use of these platforms, especially young people. According to Statista, in April 2024, there were 5.07 billion (62.6%) social media users worldwide. Whether watching videos on YouTube, posting or scrolling on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X or Facebook, or messaging on Messenger or Whatsapp, it has become a part of youngster’s everyday lives.
Social media can have a pervasive influence on young people. It can have many benefits and positives, but there are negatives and risks, and there have been many examples of young people harmed by social media use. They can feel pressured to conform, the need to stay connected and fear they may miss out, which can increase the risk of addiction. Prolonged use of social media can have negative impacts on their mental health and well-being.
This blog aims to explore various ways in which social media can impact the mental health and well-being of young people. It will cover the positive and negative impacts of social media and how to use these platforms in a way that benefits young people’s mental health rather than damaging it.
Understanding Social Media Use Among Youth
Britannica defines social media as:
“A form of mass media communications on the Internet (such as on websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos)”.
Generations Z and Alpha are growing up in a digital age, unlike any other generations preceding them. Therefore, their use of various technologies and social media platforms is deeply integrated into their everyday lives. They use them to stay connected with their family, friends and peers, share creative content, enhance their learning and skills, get tips, advice and support, and consume news.
Almost all young people use social media of some kind, and here are some statistics to highlight the usage among different age groups of youth:
In a 2021 survey (Statista):
- 97% of 16-17-year-olds used social media.
- 91% of 15-16-year-olds used social media, and 87% had a social media profile.
- Nine in ten aged 12-15 used social media in the UK.
- TikTok was used on average 97 minutes per day by younger social media users in the UK.
- Girls aged 13-17 were the second largest audience of TikTok influencers.
A 2023 report by Ofcom found that:
- 97% of children in their pilot study visited a social media service.
- YouTube, Facebook (including Messenger) and TikTok were the highest-reaching social media services among online children aged 8-12.
- 15–17-year-olds top six social media platforms were:
- YouTube – 96%.
- Facebook & Messenger – 87%.
- Instagram – 86%.
- TikTok – 72%.
- Snapchat – 71%.
- X (formerly Twitter) – 60%.
Ofcom’s annual study (2023) into children’s relationship with media and the online world found:
- Almost all children aged 3 to 17 (96%) watch videos on video-sharing sites and apps.
- YouTube remains the most popular site or app, used by nearly nine in ten 3–17-year-olds (88%).
According to Ofcom’s Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report:
- The proportion of children and young people who go online is as follows:
- 84% 3-4 years old.
- 96% 5-7 years old.
- 98% 8-11 years old.
- 100% 12-15 years old.
- 100% 16-17 years old.
- Social media use increases with age, rising from a third (34%) of children aged 3-7 to over six in ten (63%) 8-11s and over nine in ten 12-17s (92% of 12-15s and 95% of 16-17s, respectively).
- Over eight in ten (81%) of all children aged 8-17 use at least one social media app/site for following friends, people and organisations, reading, liking or sharing content.
As social media is used extensively by young people, it is vital to understand the positive and negative impacts that its use can have on their health and well-being.