How does social media affect young people's brain development?

An unprecedented legal battle is underway in Canada as school boards sue tech giants. Schools accuse social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok of causing serious harm to students' mental health and learning by designing addictive algorithms and displaying harmful content.

Social media overuse has led to a rise in issues like depression, anxiety, school violence and suicide among young people. The schools, seeking nearly $3 billion in damages, hope the lawsuit will raise awareness about online child safety and force tech companies to take more responsibility for protecting users.

The impact of social media on young people’s mental health remains a controversial topic. Existing research has produced inconsistent results, making it difficult to draw general conclusions. According to an article in the psychology journal Current Opinion in Psychology cited by The New York Times, most reviews of the issue have found insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between social media use and mental health problems.

Although there is still much debate, it is undeniable that social media poses many potential risks to the mental and physical health of teenagers. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 90% of American teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 use social media, an average of 9 hours a day. This excessive time "addicted" to social media has been linked to problems such as sleep disorders, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.

The fact that teenagers in the US in particular and in many other countries in general spend too much time on social networks is posing a big challenge for parents and educators. During the period when the brain is forming and developing, excessive exposure to the digital environment can cause serious consequences. Therefore, creating a healthy and balanced environment for children to develop is the responsibility of both the family and the school.

Adolescence is a period when the brain undergoes fundamental changes. Neural connections are constantly being formed and strengthened, especially in the areas that control emotions and behavior. Because of this incomplete development, the adolescent brain is very susceptible to external factors, including social media.

According to the head of US public health issues, Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote in a report on the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents, frequent use of social media can cause significant changes in the structure and function of the brain.

Specifically, the amygdala, an area involved in emotion and motivation, may become more sensitive to social cues, making teens more susceptible to online judgments and interactions. At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, an area responsible for decision-making, behavioral control, and emotions, may also be affected, leading to difficulty regulating negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Social media platforms often use a complex system of likes, comments, and notifications to engage users. These interactions are not just numbers, but also the core of the algorithms that control what we see on social media.

This mechanism unintentionally creates a feedback loop that makes users, especially teenagers, feel the need to constantly seek recognition and validation from their friends. Constantly checking notifications and comparing themselves to carefully crafted images on social media can lead to negative emotions.

A 2019 study by UK health experts found worrying evidence of a link between excessive social media use and mental health problems in teenagers.

The report, published in the Journal of Electronic Clinical Medicine, found that excessive social media use can lead to a range of problems, from cyberbullying and sleep disturbances to body image issues and depression. These results suggest that the negative effects of social media go beyond the psychological aspect and have a profound impact on young people’s physical health and overall development.

Although there is no definitive scientific evidence to establish a causal link between social media use and mental health problems in adolescents, empirical observations and preliminary studies have shown a worrying link.

The excessive time spent by adolescents on social media platforms has become a pressing social issue. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of social media’s impact on the brain and mental health of young people. This will help health professionals, parents and educators to make timely and appropriate interventions.

It is undeniable that social media has become an integral part of modern teenagers’ lives. It provides a great platform for young people to express themselves, connect with friends and explore the world. Interacting on social media can help build meaningful social relationships, boost confidence and creativity.

However, in addition to these benefits, excessive and unhealthy use of social media also poses many risks. Studies have shown that frequent exposure to negative content and comparing oneself to others on social media can lead to mental health problems. Especially during brain development, using social media can affect the way the brain processes information, form unhealthy habits and cause long-term consequences.

The fact that teens spend so much time online each day means they spend less time on extracurricular activities and interacting face-to-face with friends and family. No digital platform can completely replace real-life social experiences.

Through face-to-face interactions, teens learn to read body language, develop nonverbal communication skills, practice empathy, and build deep relationships. These are essential life skills that cannot be learned through a phone screen alone.

Therefore, teenagers should proactively arrange their time using social networks reasonably. Instead of spending too much time on the virtual world, young people can temporarily stop using social networks for certain periods of time to focus on other activities such as reading books, playing sports, or joining clubs.

Balancing life between the virtual world and the real world will help teenagers develop more comprehensively, build lasting relationships and have memorable experiences during their youth.