Social Media: FRIEND or FOE to Youth Development?

According to a recent review, between 90–98% of youth in the Global North (Canada, USA, UK, Australia) have at least one social media account.¹ However, while social media is often blamed for declining mental health, particularly among our still-developing and vulnerable youth, research tells a more nuanced story. 

For today’s youth, social media is about more than just entertainment, it’s a place for connection, identity formation, and support. Moreover, while some studies report a relationship between increased time spent on social media and worse mental health, it may only account for about 6% of problematic social media use.² This suggests that the quality rather than the quantity of social media use is what really matters.³ 

The Science:

On one hand, social media use has repeatedly been linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, body image issues, disordered eating, self-harm, and suicidal ideation in youth.^1,3 Algorithm-driven “recommender systems”, which provide a constant stream of tailored content to maximize users’ time on the application, may be uniquely harmful, contributing to decreased attention, low mood, poor sleep, and compulsive behaviours.^3,4 Social media also increases the likelihood that youth will encounter misinformation and/or disinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, extremist views, and explicit content.^3,4

At the same time, young people themselves report that social media helps them build relationships and find community.^1,3 For many, online spaces represent supportive environments where they can share their ideas and opinions with others, fostering information exchange, creative expression, and identity formation.^3,5 Social media can also help normalize conversation about difficult topics like mental health, inequity, or discrimination and connect those struggling with these issues to the resources they need.⁵ 

One form of social media that has gained particular attention among researchers are short form videos, which represent highly stimulating, fast-paced content.⁶ It is thought that repeated engagement with short form content like TikTok videos, Instagram reels, or YouTube shorts can cause users to become desensitized to activities requiring high cognitive effort, such as reading or problem solving, while increasing impulsivity and preference for immediate gratification. Over time, this may weaken the brain’s ability to focus, resulting in a loss of mental stamina.^6,7 

For Parents:

It is important for parents to understand that most youth are not intentionally reliant on social media—their brains are literally being re-wired by these platforms! Many aspects of social media activate the brain’s natural reward system, which is regulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Biologically, dopamine release into certain brain regions is associated with motivation and feelings of pleasure, creating a feedback loop that encourages repeated behaviour (in this case, repeated checking and scrolling).⁷ Because this circuitry is still developing in youth, support, not just restriction, is key.⁸

Research suggests that teaching youth how to mindfully and intentionally use social media is more effective than focusing only on its risks or enforcing strict limits.^8,9 Open-minded conversations that come from a place of curiosity rather than authority or regulation are especially powerful.

Try this:

• Stay curious: “What do you enjoy about social media?”, “When does it feel helpful, and when doesn’t it?”.

• Co-create boundaries: Set guidelines about how and when to use social media together. This fosters a sense of autonomy and responsibility.

• Pair limits with alternatives: If aiming to reduce screen time, make sure to provide access to engaging offline activities like sports, art, hobbies, and in-person social time.

• Model balance: Make sure that you are also engaging with social media in a healthy and sustainable way—youth notice more about your behaviour than you think!

For Educators and Coaches:

Research suggests that therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions may help youth engage with social media more intentionally. strengthen skills like critical thinking, goal setting, emotional regulation, and self-compassion.⁸ 

Peer involvement can also be beneficial; however, keep in mind that context matters. For example, youth often prefer privacy for sensitive topics like mental health, allowing for more personalized and independent learning and self-reflection and less fear of judgement or comparison. On the other hand, including peers may enhance general skill-building by boosting creativity, motivation, and accountability.^8,10

Try this:

• Integrate reflection: Ask students to reflect on how certain social media content affects their mood, focus, and confidence.

• Teach media literacy: Guide discussions about how social media algorithms decide on what content we see and why. Teach your students about how misinformation/disinformation is spread and how to fact check using reputable sources.

• Offer choice: Provide both individual and group-based support when possible.

• Normalize asking for help: Share information about counseling or mental health resources early and often. Understand the limits of your role and know how and when to refer your students to others. 

• Push for change: Advocate for changes to school curricula that will help students acquire important skills early on like how to build a positive online presence and how to stay safe while building global social and professional networks.

CAPSuLe’s Formula for Widespread Change:

Although several countries have put policies in place to regulate social media use, they lack any real specificity and cannot keep up with the rapid development of social media platforms.¹ Here at CAPSuLe, we believe that there are few things we can all start doing today that will have a positive impact on youth for years to come:

1. Advocate for more transparency and stricter rules from companies regarding how they use personal data, maintain privacy, and keep their users safe.

2. Acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all solution: the most effective support system for each person will depend on their age, culture, and living situation. (This is where working directly with youth to create a plan for healthy social media use comes in handy!)

3. Stay informed about how and why social media is being used by youth (including its impacts—both positive and negative!) and update your strategies for curbing problematic social media use accordingly.

At CAPSuLe, we believe that when adults commit to learning alongside young people, we can move beyond fear-based responses and toward meaningful, evidence-informed change. By equipping youth with the skills and guidance they need to navigate social media thoughtfully, we can help ensure that the online spaces shaping their lives support rather than undermine their wellbeing.

References

1. Chhabra J, Pilkington V, Benakovic R, Wilson MJ, La Sala L, Seidler Z. Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Scoping Review of Platform and Policy Recommendations. J Med Internet Res. 2025;27:e72061. Published 2025 Jun 20. doi:10.2196/72061

2. Valkenburg PM, Meier A, Beyens I. Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022;44:58-68. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017

3. Agyapong-Opoku N, Agyapong-Opoku F, Greenshaw AJ. Effects of Social Media Use on Youth and Adolescent Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Reviews. Behav Sci (Basel). 2025;15(5):574. Published 2025 Apr 24. doi:10.3390/bs15050574

4. Metzler H, Garcia D. Social Drivers and Algorithmic Mechanisms on Digital Media. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2024;19(5):735-748. doi:10.1177/17456916231185057

5. Popat A, Tarrant C. Exploring adolescents' perspectives on social media and mental health and well-being - A qualitative literature review. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023;28(1):323-337. doi:10.1177/13591045221092884

6. Nguyen L, Walters J, Paul S, et al. Feeds, feelings, and focus: A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the cognitive and mental health correlates of short-form video use. Psychol Bull. 2025;151(9):1125-1146. doi:10.1037/bul0000498

7. Masri-Zada T, Martirosyan S, Abdou A, et al. The Impact of Social Media & Technology on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. J Psychiatry Psychiatr Disord. 2025;9(2):111-130.

8. Nagata JM, Hur JO, Talebloo J, et al. Problematic Social Media Use Interventions for Mental Health Outcomes in Adolescents. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2025;27(9):491-499. doi:10.1007/s11920-025-01619-3

9. Plackett R, Blyth A, Schartau P. The Impact of Social Media Use Interventions on Mental Well-Being: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e44922. Published 2023 Aug 11. doi:10.2196/44922

10. Mahon C, Hevey D. Pilot trial of a self-compassion intervention to address adolescents' social media-related body image concerns. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023;28(1):307-322. doi:10.1177/13591045221099215