“What advice would you give to young people who are new to social media?”
“Have you ever felt like you need to change your social media use…?”
These questions were answered by teens and young people from all over the country in a 2020 text survey. Their responses are eye-opening.
“I would tell young people … the internet is far off from reality and the more time you spend on it, the more you forget what real life is actually like…,” One person wrote.
“Don’t let social media control your life or your self-esteem,” Another text message
The study, published in September, reveals a striking awareness about the potential harms social media can have on teenagers’ mental health, but also their persistent attempts to counter these harms.
Several respondents stated that social media makes them depressed. Many respondents asked their parents to help stop them from using it. Nearly two-thirds of respondents gave some version of this advice to future teens: Don’t use social media. It’s OK to abstain. Or delete your accounts.
“I have repeatedly deleted Instagram in an effort to improve my emotional state but then, I reinstall. Many times,” A respondent wrote.
Nearly 95% (or more) of U.S. teenagers today use some form of social media. About a third claim to use it…
