Nearly 50% of American teens worry that social media is harming their mental health

In a survey of more than 1,000 American teens conducted by the Pew Research Center late last year, nearly half said they had actively cut back on their smartphone and social media use, amid growing concerns about the negative impact of technology on young people’s mental health.

Mental and physical health issues related to social media are now a common concern among parents, educators, health professionals, and lawmakers.

A new report released on April 22 by Pew shows that nearly 50% of American teenagers believe that social media mainly has a negative impact on people their age, and an equal percentage are trying to reduce their use of these platforms.

The survey, conducted in September and October 2024 with 1,391 adolescents aged 13 to 17 and their parents, revealed a worrying reality: 48% of adolescents said social media was harmful, compared to only 32% in 2022. However, only 14% said they were negatively affected, a slight increase from 9% two years ago.

Notably, 45% of teens admit to spending too much time on social media, and 44% have made an effort to cut back. “Excessive social media use is contributing to depression in people my age,” one teen shared in the report. “People are so easily influenced by anonymous opinions, and it’s psychologically draining for many.”

Against this backdrop, lawmakers and experts are increasingly pressing social media companies to take greater responsibility. Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy — a title equivalent to “surgeon general” who guides public opinion and policy on public health issues — called for warning labels on apps, similar to those for tobacco or alcohol.

Australia became the first country to ban young people under 16 from using social media, while the US state of Utah has enacted a law requiring age verification when downloading apps.

The Pew report found that the impact of social media on teens is not uniform, but varies significantly by gender, race, and ethnicity. Notably, teenage girls are more vulnerable, with significantly more of them reporting negative impacts on sleep, academic performance, mental health, and self-esteem than their male peers.

These results aren’t new. A 2019 study found that the link between social media and depression tends to be stronger in girls.

The reason is believed to be that social media makes girls more vulnerable to bullying, while also eroding time for positive activities such as relaxation and real-life connections.

In 2021, leaked internal documents from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, further raised concerns. According to Meta's own research, Instagram made "1 in 3 teenage girls feel worse about their body image."

Since then, Meta has begun rolling out a series of measures to improve the experience for younger users, including new AI tools to detect age fraud.

Notably, girls (48%) also tend to proactively cut down on social media use more than boys (40%).

Meanwhile, the mental health of adolescents in general continues to be a major concern for both parents and young people themselves, with 89% of parents and 77% of adolescents surveyed admitting they are “somewhat” or “very” concerned about the issue.

However, there is a clear gap in perceptions about the causes: 44% of parents believe that social media is the leading factor negatively affecting their children's mental health, while only 22% of adolescents agree.

“Technology makes children afraid of making mistakes, afraid to explore, and less creative. They gradually lose the ability to solve problems on their own, whether in relationships or in everyday life,” one mother shared in the survey.

Social media isn’t all dark, though. Nearly 60% of teens say it’s a place for them to express themselves creatively. Many also value social media for staying informed and in touch with friends.