Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Exploring the Impact of Social Media Use
on Youth Mental Health
on Youth Mental Health
The overall goal of this work is to better understand how youth mental health is communicated, perceived and regulated online, to help inform evidence-based awareness strategies and social media policies.
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Why is this research important?
Social media has become integrated into the lives of young people, yet it's impact is not well understood. Determining just what it is that young people see and share online, as well as what they experience as a result, is key to encouraging healthy ways to engage with social media while minimizing potential harms that arise with these platforms. |
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What have we done so far?
We reviewed existing literature to identify evaluations of mental health awareness campaigns. Information about characteristics and descriptions of such campaigns, evaluation designs and sampling, and summaries of their impact were collected.
We also presented a call to action for evidence-based social media policies in light of current debates about current moderation practices used by social media platforms around youth mental health content.
What have we found so far?
Online mental health awareness campaigns are associated with positive changes in youth behaviour, such as an increase in help-seeking. More evaluations of such campaigns for youth are needed to inform better development and distribution in future awareness efforts.
Current social media moderation and censorship of mental health content is not supported by scientific evidence and can still leave at-risk youth exposed to harmful content. At the same time, online mental health discourse can have positive impacts on youth mental health by fostering communities where help-seeking, coping strategies, and belonging are encouraged.
We reviewed existing literature to identify evaluations of mental health awareness campaigns. Information about characteristics and descriptions of such campaigns, evaluation designs and sampling, and summaries of their impact were collected.
We also presented a call to action for evidence-based social media policies in light of current debates about current moderation practices used by social media platforms around youth mental health content.
What have we found so far?
Online mental health awareness campaigns are associated with positive changes in youth behaviour, such as an increase in help-seeking. More evaluations of such campaigns for youth are needed to inform better development and distribution in future awareness efforts.
Current social media moderation and censorship of mental health content is not supported by scientific evidence and can still leave at-risk youth exposed to harmful content. At the same time, online mental health discourse can have positive impacts on youth mental health by fostering communities where help-seeking, coping strategies, and belonging are encouraged.
Publications & Media
Tam MT, Wu JM, Zhang CC, Pawliuk C, Robillard JM. A systematic review of the impacts of media mental health awareness campaigns on young people. Health promotion practice. 2024 Sep;25(5):907-20. Google Scholar
Zhang CC, Zaleski G, Kailley JN, Teng KA, English M, Riminchan A, Robillard JM. Debate: Social media content moderation may do more harm than good for youth mental health. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 2024 Feb;29(1):104-6. Google Scholar
Teng KA. Adolescent Use of Social Media: What Does It Mean for Mental Health? 2024 Blogpost Neuroethics Canada
Zhang CC, Zaleski G, Kailley JN, Teng KA, English M, Riminchan A, Robillard JM. Debate: Social media content moderation may do more harm than good for youth mental health. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 2024 Feb;29(1):104-6. Google Scholar
Teng KA. Adolescent Use of Social Media: What Does It Mean for Mental Health? 2024 Blogpost Neuroethics Canada
External Contributors
Dr. Ali Eslami, University of British Columbia; BC Children's Hospital
Colleen Pawliuk, University of British Columbia; BC Children's Hospital
Colleen Pawliuk, University of British Columbia; BC Children's Hospital
Funders
We are proud to have received funding for this project from the following organizations
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