Amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on young minds, about 1 in 4 teens say it has negatively affected their mental health, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
The research found that many teens believe social media can be harmful to people their age. The findings come as lawmakers and the US Surgeon General warn that social platforms pose a serious threat to young users, particularly as mental health issues continue to rise among teens. The study was conducted over several weeks in fall 2024 among nearly 1,400 teens.
Nearly half of the teens (48%) surveyed said social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age, up significantly from 32% in 2022. But fewer teens (14%) said it has a negative impact on their own mental health.
Teen girls were more likely than boys to report that social media has harmed their mental health (25% vs. 14%), and they were also more likely to say it negatively affects their confidence (20% vs. 10%) and sleep (50% vs. 40%).
The report also highlighted the increasing time teens are spending on these platforms and how they’re aware of this change. About 45% of teen respondents said they spend too much time on social media, compared to 36% in 2022.
At the same time, however, many teens say the platforms offer important benefits. A majority (74%) said social media helps them feel more connected to their friends.
Parents, meanwhile, are even more concerned. About 55% report being extremely or very worried about the mental health of today’s teens.
The report also notes a growing trend of teens turning to social media for mental health information. More than a third (34%) say they use platforms to learn more about mental health, following a surge of therapist influencers and others sharing personal stories and advice online.
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