Blog Post #5 – How Does Instagram Influence Teenagers’ Mental Health?
In my final blog post, I will summarize my research and attempt to answer my big question: “How Does Instagram Influence Teenagers’ Mental Health?”
Throughout my research, I have discovered that Social media anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by excessive worry or fear related to social media use and its impact on relationships, self-esteem, and overall well-being. It is important to recognize social media anxiety as a valid mental health concern, as it can significantly impact the quality of life for young adults, affecting both their mental and physical health. (1)
Social media anxiety can stem from various causes and factors. One of the primary causes is the fear of missing out (FOMO), which refers to the anxiety and worry that others are having more enjoyable experiences or living better lives.
Comparing oneself to others and the constant exposure to curated and idealized versions of others’ lives on social media can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. The pressure to maintain an online persona and the fear of judgment or criticism can also lead to social media anxiety.
It is important to recognize these causes and address them to alleviate social media anxiety. By developing a healthier perspective and understanding that social media presents a curated version of reality, individuals can reduce the negative impact of social media on their mental health and well-being. (1)
So, what can be done?
In addition to putting specific findings in context, it is also critical to make the nature of this research clear. This research, some of which relied on input from only 40 teens, was designed to inform internal conversations about teens’ most negative perceptions of Instagram. It did not measure causal relationships between Instagram and real-world issues. These documents were also created for and used by people who understood the limitations of the research, which is why they occasionally used shorthand language, particularly in the headlines, and do not explain the caveats on every slide. (2)
- WSJ said: “Repeatedly, the company’s researchers found that Instagram is harmful for a sizable percentage of them [young users], most notably teenage girls. ‘We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls,’ said one slide from 2019, summarizing research about teen girls who experience the issues.”
- WSJ said: “Teen boys aren’t immune. In the deep dive Facebook’s researchers conducted into mental health in 2019, they found that 14% of boys in the US said Instagram made them feel worse about themselves. In their report on body image in 2020, Facebook’s researchers found that 40% of teen boys experience negative social comparison.”
- WSJ said: “‘Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression,’ said another slide. ‘This reaction was unprompted and consistent across all groups.’” (2)
Improving Instagram use
Since Instagram’s internal research leaked to the public in September, there’s an increasing recognition that caution may be warranted when engaging with the platform. Alter recommends spending several hours at a time away from the app, either by leaving one’s phone in another room, activating airplane mode, or turning off notifications.
Instagram and other platforms can bolster these efforts, researchers say, with more collaboration and data sharing. APA is engaged in advocacy efforts to increase transparency into the company’s massive internal datasets and to increase federal funding for studying the mental health effects of social media use.
“Different people use social media in very different ways, We need to understand what factors make some people more sensitive to experiences they have online—and how those experiences might impact psychological problems in the future.” Said Nesi (Instagram safety researcher) (3)
The effect of Instagram on myself:
Personally, I have experienced how Instagram can affect mental health both positively and negatively. When I first started using Instagram, I enjoyed how I could interact with friends and post moments of my life. But as I continued to use Instagram, I found myself scrolling through posts for hours, comparing my life to others. I would see someone traveling, wearing expensive clothing, or constantly seeming happy, and it made me feel that I wasn’t accomplishing as much with my life—something I knew most of what I was witnessing was edited and stringently curated.
There were times when I would become anxious if a post didn’t get as many likes or if I wasn’t staying online on the app. It helped me realize how easy it is to get swept up in trying to present a perfect image on the internet. Staying away from Instagram for stretches of time has definitely kept me sticked to reality and my own goals, rather than getting distracted by what everybody else is doing. Reading the research made me understand that I’m not alone in feeling this way, and that many teens experience similar challenges with social media.
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