Are young people spending more time on screens because they are depressed? Or are they depressed because they are spending too much time on social media? The deadly scroll has taken ahold of people’s brains. Apps like TikTok and Instagram, where you can scroll for hours on end, are putting a damper on people’s mental health. According to data from DataReportal, the average American spends 7 hours and 4 minutes looking at a screen every day. So, you have to wonder, is this constant access to screens helping or hurting our mental health?  

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, depression and suicide rates for teens between the ages of 13 and 18 have increased dramatically since 2010. Social media has grown rapidly since then, so the connections between depression, suicide rates, and social media are very relevant. Seeing others around you posting glorified images of their life can put a toll on how you view your life and yourself. Social media is more popular with females and because many stereotypes, like body image, have changed over the years, young girls have higher standards for their bodies and lives. With social media taking over, this idea of perfection has taken over as well. Not meeting this idea of “perfection” can easily make a developing teenager depressed.  

FOMO—fear of missing out—also plays a role. If everyone else is using social media sites and someone doesn’t join in, there’s concern that they’ll miss jokes, connections, or invitations. Missing experiences can cause anxiety and depression. When people look online and see they’re excluded from an activity, it can make them think many negative thoughts about themselves. This is where the depression starts. 

Although the connection between social media and depression is clear, there are upsides to it as well and our world wouldn’t be the same without it. Social media allows people to stay connected with their loved ones, which was impossible before this technology. Being in touch with someone you care about is always good for one’s mental health. As well as platforms that allow you to meet new people and make new friends. There are so many people in this world, and social media allows you to stay connected and make new connections with people you never would’ve met. 

Social media isn’t going away, it’s the present and the future. The best thing to do is to limit the use of social media and screen time in general. Experience the world and find things you like to do off your phone. It’s important that teens understand that their self-worth goes far beyond their physical appearance or their Instagram profile.