Social Media and Mental Health

Over the course of the last several years, those who lament the rapid decline in mental health among children and teens have been working to figure out if there’s any connection between the decline, and the pervasiveness of smartphones and social media in the world of children and teens. More and more research is pointing to a connection. In addition, anecdotal evidence put forth from educators makes the connection clear, so clear in fact, that back in January, the Seattle public school district filed a lawsuit against the major social media companies, including TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The lawsuit argues that these companies have exploited the vulnerable brains of youth for profit, along with creating a mental-health epidemic. The school’s are seeking compensation to deal with the rising costs of school-based mental health care. Parents, this serves as another reminder to set limits and boundaries on smartphones in your home.