Teen suicide rates are on the rise, and one of the concerns that parents and teachers have is whether social media plays a role in these alarming numbers. With teens spending more time online, it’s possible that the phones they keep in their pockets may be fueling mental health concerns and fostering feelings of discontent.
But does social media contribute to teen suicide? Let’s look a bit closer at the issue and what it can mean for parents and teachers.
Overview of Teen Suicide
In people who are between the ages of 15 and 24, suicide is the second leading cause of death, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Distressingly, the American Psychological Association states that more than 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide.
Although all teens, just like all adults, can be at risk of suicidal ideation, some risk factors make it more likely to occur. Risk factors can include marginalization or discrimination, and mental health concerns like depression or anxiety.
Teens who have lived through traumatic experiences are also at a higher risk, as are those who have been bullied or isolated. That’s where taking a good look at social media’s impact is important.
The Rise of Social Media
A Gallup poll from 2023 revealed that over half of teenagers spend more than four hours using social media per day, while a Pew Research Center study states that 54% of teens would have a hard time stopping the use of social media.
This same study shows that 58% of teens spend a substantial amount of time on TikTok and that about 50% spend time on Instagram. These, along with Snapchat, are the most popular platforms.
The Positive Effects of Social Media
Social media offers what its name suggests: social interactions. Teens are starting to build their identities as separate from their parents, and that can be an isolating experience. Being able to see what friends are up to and connect with them instantaneously is a huge perk.
Teens who are part of minority groups may not have a natural community where they live, but they can find that online.
Another perk of social media is that it allows for self-expression. Teens can talk about their feelings, share music, art, or poems they’ve written, and fully engage with the rest of the world.
The Negative Effects of Social Media
For every benefit that social media offers, however, there’s a drawback. One major risk associated with social media use is cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying refers to teens using online tools to humiliate, tease, or threaten others. It can involve posting altered pictures of the target and spreading rumors that impact their social standing and self-esteem. In short, cyberbullying can be just as damaging as physical bullying.
Alongside cyberbullying, social media can also impact how teens see themselves. They may follow influencers or movie stars who have extravagant lifestyles and who post carefully curated content that shows their lives in the best possible light. Teens can compare their own lives with those and find them lacking.
To make matters worse, using social media can be addictive. Getting a “Like” or a message on a post causes a surge of feel-good chemicals, leading teens (and adults) to want to repeat the experience. Scrolling has the same effect.
Unfortunately, the addictive nature of social media means that teens continue to spend time on an app or site that is actively causing them harm while masking it with dopamine surges.
Research Findings
A University of Utah study shows that teens and young adults who spend hours on social media are three times more likely to develop depression than those who do not. A BYU study also found that 13-year-old girls who spend two to three hours on social media daily are more likely to attempt suicide when they are young adults.
There have also been studies on the impact of cyberbullying on youth mental health and the likelihood of a teen committing suicide. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that this link is even stronger if the teen has a preexisting mental health concern.
Thus, the answer to the question, “Does social media contribute to teen suicide?” depends strongly on the individual.
Jessica Holzbauer, a licensed clinical social worker at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, agrees that social media impacts mental health, especially for the younger generations who have grown up with the ability to quickly access any information online. She says that this instantaneous availability has harmed teens’ ability to tolerate distress.
Other studies, however, offer contradictory results. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health researchers conducted a study that showed there was no connection between social media usage and the development of depression in teens. In teen boys, daily social media usage seemed to be a protective factor against it.
Claude Mellins, Professor of Medical Psychology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Sociomedical Sciences states that social media platforms are powerful socialization tools.
Mitigation Strategies
Parents can take steps to ensure their teens are getting more benefits than drawbacks when they use social media. One important step to take is to speak with the teen about their social media use to get a sense of the emotions this usage creates.
Parents can also demonstrate appropriate social media engagement and use. A teen who sees one of their parents constantly on an app may not be inclined to listen when they’re told to put their phone down.
It’s also important to ensure teens know how to keep themselves safe online so that they don’t become victims to scammers or predators.
As with anything, open communication can make a huge difference when dealing with teens who may be struggling with mental health or self-esteem issues.
Fostering a Safe Environment With Rachel’s Challenge
Rachel’s Challenge was created to help teachers, administrators, parents, and teens build a safe environment in their schools and communities. We work to address bullying of all kinds and provide tools to empower teens to get help when they need it and to help others who may be vulnerable.
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