1、9:41 AM89%#StatusOfMindSocial media and young peoples mental health and wellbeing2Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental healthSection Page1.Background 62.Potential effects of social media(negative)83.Potential effects of social media(positive)134.Profiling social media platforms:the Y
2、HM survey 175.At a glance:ranking of social media platforms by health impact 186.Calls to action 24ContentsStatus of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental health3KEY POINTSCALLS TO ACTION 91%of16-24yearoldsusetheinternetforsocialnetworking Socialmediahasbeendescribedasmoreaddictivethancigarette
3、sand alcohol Ratesofanxietyanddepressioninyoungpeoplehaverisen70%inthe past 25 years Socialmediauseislinkedwithincreasedratesofanxiety,depression and poor sleep Cyberbullyingisagrowingproblemwith7in10youngpeoplesayingtheyhaveexperiencedit Socialmediacanimproveyoungpeoplesaccesstootherpeoplesexperien
4、cesofhealthandexperthealthinformation Thosewhousesocialmediareportbeingmoreemotionallysupported through their contacts Introductionofapop-upheavyusagewarningonsocialmedia Socialmediaplatformstohighlightwhenphotosofpeoplehavebeen digitally manipulated NHSEnglandtoapplytheInformationStandardPrinciples
5、tohealthinformation published via social media SafesocialmediausetobetaughtduringPSHEeducationinschools Socialmediaplatformstoidentifyuserswhocouldbesufferingfrommentalhealthproblemsbytheirposts,anddiscreetlysignpostto support Youth-workersandotherprofessionalswhoengagewithyoungpeople to have a digi
6、tal(including social)media component in their training Moreresearchtobecarriedoutintotheeffectsofsocialmediaonyoung peoples mental healthStatus of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental healthSocial media is now a part of almost everyones life,but none more so than our young population of digita
7、l natives.Its rise to popularity during the mid-2000s has revolutionised the way in which we communicate and share information,both as individuals and as a society.Whilst social media has permeated nearly every aspect of the mainstream,we are only just beginning to take stock of the extent to which
8、it impacts our lives.With growing consideration given to the importance of mental health and wellbeing within the health debate,there has never been a more pertinent time to talk about the relationship between social media and mental health.Social media has become a space in which we form and build
9、relationships,shape self-identity,express ourselves,and learn about the world around us;it is intrinsically linked to mental health.We must therefore strive to understand its impact on mental health,and especially the mental health of the younger population.The highest incidence of social media use
10、is seen amongst those aged 16 24.That these years are a crucial period for emotional and psychosocial development only enforces the need for greater understanding of social medias impact.It certainly isnt all bad news;social media platforms can promote a sense of community and facilitate the provisi
11、on of emotional support.With its almost universal reach and unprecedented ability to connect people from all walks of life,social media holds the potential to wield a mighty power as a positive catalyst for good mental health.But there are also risks,risks which if not addressed and countered,can an
12、d have already opened the door for social media to cause significant problems for young peoples mental health and wellbeing.Being a teenager is hard enough,but the pressures faced by young people online are arguably unique to this digital generation.It is vitally important that we put safeguards in
13、place.We hope that this report,its findings,and the issues it explores can really push forward the conversation surrounding social media and young peoples mental health and wellbeing.We hope that this conversation will be transformed into action that empowers young people with the knowledge and tool
14、s to navigate social platforms online in a way that protects and promotes their health and wellbeing.Social media isnt going away soon,nor should it.We must be ready to nurture the innovation that the future holds.Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental health5ForewordDr Becky InksterCa
15、mbridge Neuroscience University of CambridgeShirley Cramer,CBEChief Executive Royal Society for Public Health6Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental healthSocial media has revolutionised the way we connect with each other.Platforms such as Facebook,Twitter and Instagram are now used by
16、 one in four people worldwide.1 The use of social media has become an integral part of many peoples lives,connecting them with friends,family and strangers from across the globe.Many young people have never known a world without instant access to the internet and social networking platforms.The inte
17、rnet and social media has transformed the way in which this generation-commonly known as digital natives-interact and communicate with each other.2 While this presents great opportunities for innovation,learning and creativity,emerging evidence is raising concerns about the potential implications fo
18、r our young peoples mental health.Social media addiction is thought to affect around 5%of young people,3 with social media being described as more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol.4 Such is the concern surrounding social media and young people that in late 2016 MPs debated the issue in Parliame
19、nt.5 The platforms that are supposed to help young people connect with each other may actually be fuelling a mental health crisis.6 Daily,or almost daily use of the internet has risen rapidly in the last decade.In 2006,just 35%of people in the UK used the internet on a daily basis.This figure has no
20、w climbed to 82%of people in 2016.7 Overall use of social media has also risen broadly in line with internet use.In 2007,only 22%of people in the UK had at least one social media profile;by 2016,this figure had risen to 89%.8,9,10 Facebook is the most commonly used social media platform with around
21、30 million UK users.Twitter comes in as the second most used with 15 million UK users.The next most popular platforms are Google+,LinkedIn,Pinterest,Instagram and Snapchat.11 Social media use is far more prevalent among young people than older generations.The 16-24 age group are by far the most acti
22、ve social media users with 91%using the internet for social media.Compare this with 51%of 55-64 year olds and only 23%of the 65 plus age range and it is clear there is currently a generational disparity when looking at social media usage.12 BackgroundSocial media:“websites and applications that enab
23、le users to create and share content or to participate in social networking”The way young people communicate and share with each other has changed.With social media being such a new phenomenon,the exact effect it is having on the mental health,emotional wellbeing and physiology of young people is cu
24、rrently unclear and much of the evidence available is conflicting.However,recent studies have raised serious concerns about the possible detrimental effects the rise of increasingly frequent social media use is having on our young people and in particular,their mental health.Adolescence and early ad
25、ulthood is a critical and potentially vulnerable time for social and emotional development,which means understanding the effects of social media on health at this stage is of particular interest.This report explores both the positive and negative impacts social media,identified by expert academics,m
26、ay be having on young peoples mental health and emotional wellbeing,and suggests ways in which the risks to health can be mitigated,whilst harnessing and promoting the positive aspects.Social media can and should be utilised as a tool for good the challenge is to ensure social media companies are do
27、ing their utmost to make platforms a safe place to be,and for our young people to be equipped with the relevant skills to be able to navigate them and know where to seek help,should they need it.Social media use by age groupAge GroupSource:Office for National Statistics%thatusesocialmedia100%90%80%7
28、0%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%16 2425 3435 4445 5455 6465+91%of 16-24 year olds use the internet for social media7Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental health8Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental health What are the potential negative effects of social media on health?1.Anxiet
29、yanddepressionOne in six young people will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives and identified rates of anxiety and depression in young people have increased by 70%over the past 25 years.13 Our own research has shown that young people themselves say four of the five most used
30、social media platforms actually make their feelings of anxiety worse(See YHM survey-page 18).Anxiety can have a hugely detrimental impact on a young persons life.Feelings of overwhelming worry and panic can take over and make it hard for them to leave the house,attend classes or lectures,or perform
31、at work.Anxiety may be diagnosed as a specific mental health disorder such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder(GAD),panic disorder,social anxiety disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD).14 Research suggests that young people who are heavy users of social media-spending more than two hours per day
32、 on social networking sites such as Facebook,Twitter or Instagram-are more likely to report poor mental health,including psychological distress(symptoms of anxiety and depression).15 Seeing friends constantly on holiday or enjoying nights out can make young people feel like they are missing out whil
33、e others enjoy life.These feelings can promote a compare and despair attitude in young people.Individuals may view heavily photo-shopped,edited or staged photographs and videos and compare them to their seemingly mundane lives.The findings of a small study,commissioned by Anxiety UK supported this i
34、dea and found evidence of social media feeding anxiety and increasing feelings of inadequacy.16 The unrealistic expectations set by social media may leave young people with feelings of self-consciousness,low self-esteem and the pursuit of perfectionism which can manifest as anxiety disorders.17 Use
35、of social media,particularly operating more than one social media account simultaneously,has also been shown to be linked with symptoms of social anxiety.18 As well as anxiety disorders,nearly 80,000 children and young people in the UK suffer with severe depression.19 There is growing evidence linki
36、ng social media use and depression in young people,with studies showing that increased use is associated with significantly increased odds of depression.20 Using social media for more than two hours per day has also been independently associated with poor self-rating of mental health,increased level
37、s of psychological distress and suicidal ideation.21 This phenomenon has even been labelled as Facebook depression by researchers who suggest that the intensity of the online world-where teens and young adults are constantly contactable,face pressures from unrealistic representations of reality,and
38、deal with online peer pressure-may be responsible for triggering depression or exacerbating existing conditions.22One piece of research has even gone as far as attempting to predict depression in individuals based solely on their social media postings.They were able to predict depression with up to
39、70%accuracy merely by studying an individuals posts on Twitter.23Anonymous 20-24 y/o Northern England“.it has increased my level of anxiety and social anxiety Im constantly worried about what others think of my posts and pictures.”Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental health92.SleepSl
40、eep and mental health are tightly linked.Poor mental health can lead to poor sleep and poor sleep can lead to states of poor mental health.24 Sleep is particularly important for teens and young adults due to this being a key time for development.25 The brain is not fully developed until a person is
41、well into their twenties and thirties.26 Sleep is essential for allowing us to function properly during waking hours and teens need around 1-2 hours more sleep every night than adults.27 Poor sleep is linked to a wide range of both physical and mental health conditions in adults including high blood
42、 pressure,diabetes,obesity,heart attack,stroke and depression.28,29 Anonymous 14-16 y/o Northern Ireland“the time you can spend on some of these apps-they can be very addictive.I lose time to revise,cant do homework,cant interact with family/friends and lose a lot of sleep at night time.”Anonymous 1
43、4-16 y/o Southern England“This social media resulted in me not eating properly and losing a lot of weight and becoming very depressed,I finally recovered which was hard for myself to be bullied online again in year 8.Overall I would say social media has caused me many issues and has caused me to be
44、depressed many times.”80,000 children and young people in the UK with severe depressionSource:MindFeelingsofworryand/or stressLowself esteemTirednessDifficulty copingwith daily lifeLack of sleep10Status of Mind:Social media and young peoples mental health Numerous studies have shown that increased s
45、ocial media use has a significant association with poor sleep quality in young people.30 Using social media on phones,laptops and tablets at night before bed is also linked with poor quality sleep,even more so than regular daytime use of social media.31,32 It is thought that the use of LED lights be
46、fore sleep can interfere with and block natural processes in the brain that trigger feelings of sleepiness,as well as the release of the sleep hormone,melatonin.33 This means it takes longer to fall asleep and individuals end up getting fewer hours of sleep every night.34One in five young people say
47、 they wake up during the night to check messages on social media,leading them to be three times more likely to feel constantly tired at school than their classmates who dont use social media during the night.353.Body imageBody image is an issue for many young people,both male and female,but particul
48、arly females in their teens and early twenties.As many as nine in 10 teenage girls say they are unhappy with their body.36There are 10 million new photographs uploaded to Facebook alone every hour,providing an almost endless potential for young women to be drawn into appearance-based comparisons whi
49、lst online.37 Studies have shown that when young girls and women in their teens and early twenties view Facebook for only a short period of time,body image concerns are higher compared to non-users.38 One study also demonstrated girls expressing a heightened desire to change their appearance such as
50、 face,hair and/or skin after spending time on Facebook.39 Others have suggested social media is behind a rise in younger generations opting to have cosmetic surgery to look better in photos,which has implications for physical health through unnecessary invasive surgery.Around 70%of 18-24 years olds