Many teens enjoy social media. Many also face issues with depression or know friends and family members who do. Researchers have established a link between social media use and depression, finding that teens who spend three hours or more per day on social media are more likely to experience anxiety, bad feelings, or depression. It's believed this has contributed to a rise in major depressive disorders among those ages 12 to 17. Teens who engage in four or more hours of electronic device use daily may also be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts. Social media often creates false impressions, exposes teens to bullying and insults, or leaves teens feeling left out. There are many positive aspects to social media, but teens must think carefully about how they use it, what they choose to allow in their feeds, and who they choose to connect with online.

Originally released by Cambridge Educational, 2020. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on March 10, 2020.

Depression and Social Media (5:12); .