Excessive Facebook Use Affects Teen Mental Health: How to Tackle Social Media Harm?
Tackle Social Media Harm
Teen mental health issues have been a growing concern for over a decade. Therapists and psychologists feel that other than a stressful life, social media platforms like Facebook are one culprit as well. Parents often wonder about ways to monitor the way their teens use social media so that they can live a wholesome life.
An advisory ‘Social Media and Youth Mental Health’ released in 2023 states that there is evidence that social media is aggravating people’s mental health. According to Linda Mayes, the chairperson of Yale Child Study Centre, the issue is more complicated than one can imagine. She asserts that social media platforms are affecting teens the way television once did.
Research on American teens reveals people between the age bracket of 12 and 15 who use social media excessively face medical health issues, like anxiety and depression. In this article, we will delve into how Facebook affects teen mental health and the way parents can manage this issue.
Adverse Effects of Facebook on Teen Mental Health
Teens today spend ample time browsing social media platforms. According to research by Newport Academy, close to 71% of teens engage on Facebook, followed by 52% on Instagram, and 33% on Twitter.
While posting on Facebook does allow teens to feel accepted and connected with others, the side effects hurt their mental space by ruining their ambition, focus, and zest for life. It has made many teens face cyberbullying, fall for false standards of life and beauty, and develop suicidal tendencies. If your teen’s life is affected by harmful social media content from specific channels, you can file a Facebook lawsuit.
Surprisingly, Facebook knew that its algorithms have been designed to focus on content to keep users engaged, despite it being harmful. This is what led to issues like negative body image, social isolation, falling for false standards of success, and many more. These problems led parents to file lawsuits against this leading social media platform.
As of the Facebook lawsuit update for 2024, in February the first bellwether trial in MDL has been scheduled for late 2025. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers added a series of dates to address cases that accuse Facebook of causing harm to young people. Hence, parents who are thinking about filing a legal complaint can expect to be heard and also get the deserved justice.
Using Facebook or any other social media platform excessively can lead to:
Internet Addiction
If your teen logs into their Facebook account after every one or two hours, they are addicted to it. Gradually, you will find that their entire life revolves around what others share in their timelines. They are always keen to know what public figures, like actors and celebrities, share about their lifestyle.
This compels them to compare their lives with others they don’t even know and set unrealistic life goals and standards, which, when not attained, eventually lead to depression. All these can affect academic performance, inner peace, and personal development.
Sleep Deprivation
Most teens are guilty of using social media during the night and that affects their sleep cycle to a vast extent. A disrupted sleep schedule will affect the body and mind because there is a lack of adequate rest. Teens often face problems like not being able to concentrate on studies during the morning, unexplained weight gain, restlessness, challenges in learning, acne, and other skin issues.
Without proper sleep, teens can’t think clearly, make proper decisions, and often pick up fights with their friends and loved ones. It can make them cut ties with others without resorting to peaceful reconciliation.
Face Cyberbullying
Cyberbullies make use of Facebook profiles to disseminate unpleasant and incorrect data about certain users. This can lead to cognitive issues like reduced self-esteem, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and loneliness among teens. The privacy setting on one’s account is supposed to help users limit their access to certain content creators. Despite that, teens fall prey to cyberbullying, which breaks their confidence and mental stability.
TorHoerman Law states that if your teen has been a victim of cyberbullying or any negative predicament, because of using Facebook, you stand a chance to file a lawsuit. It’s best to speak with a lawyer to find out how to navigate the legal landscape. Once you are eligible to file a claim, do as the lawyer guides so that you get both justice and compensation for the problem endured.
How Can Parents Take Control?
The communication gap between parents and their teens is one of the main reasons for which they fall prey to social media harm. Since they don’t have a heart-to-heart conversation and see eye-to-eye with their parents on several matters, they look for validation on social media.
As a parent, here’s what you can do to address the issue and resolve it in the best way possible:
Notice the Signs of Addiction
Every teen would display signs of excessive Facebook use and suffer from the problems that it causes. These include social isolation, mood swings, irritation, lack of empathy, sleep disorders, a negative mindset, poor academic reports, and being disinterested in almost everything. Once you notice your teen exhibiting these signs, it’s time to speak with them.
Forsake Judgment
As a parent, it’s natural to want your teen to behave and live in a certain way that you approve of. But when faced with this crisis, it’s best to keep your judgment in the backseat and encourage your teen to have a frank discussion with you. It will help you learn about the challenges and insecurities they face.
Once you know that, you can work it out from a place of acceptance and compassion. It will not only encourage them to open up but also help you develop a close bond with them.
Arrange for Therapy
It’s natural for your teen not to want to speak with a therapist. They might feel exposed and judged for their predicament. Hence, ensure that you introduce the idea carefully and do not force them to comply with it. Give them the space they need, and chances are they will opt for therapy, which can help to heal their unhealthy behavior patterns because of excessive Facebook use.
In conclusion, Facebook, when used wisely, can be beneficial to everyone, including teens. It can help them connect with others and share ideas for a better future. But browsing content that leads to unrealistic notions about how one’s body, career, relationship, or life should be, leads to inner conflict, anxiety, stress, and depression.
Parents must approach this situation wisely and with care. Also, for any excess harm, such as teens committing suicide or falling prey to cyberbullying, seeking legal aid is a must.
