Digital Media Use and Mental Health in Youth: Risks, Benefits, and Healthy Boundaries

Why Digital Media Use Matters for Youth Mental Health

The Growing Presence of Smartphones and Social Media in Teens

Without question, digital media use in young people has increased substantially over the past decade. From social media sites to gaming to online video content platforms, the options to attract users to log on and stay connected is ever expanding. A 2024 Pew Research Center poll found access to a smartphone to be near universal in US teens, with 95% having access and roughly 90% having at least one social media account. Data is increasing on how access and online presence is starting at earlier ages, with mixed feedback on the impact of such use on youth mental health.

Why the Developing Brain Is Especially Vulnerable Online

The developing brain is ripe for fast-paced, new experiences. At the same time, it is heavily influenced by emotion and a need for inclusion. Considering the potential risks and benefits from the lens of a particular young person’s personality, what type of use they are pursuing and for how long they are online appears to prove most useful when assessing the impact of digital media use on youth mental health.

Potential Benefits of Digital Media Use in Youth

Potential benefits include access to online resources that may expand one’s knowledge, allow for global, diverse connection when a supportive community is needed and digital media use can provide broad opportunities for self-expression. Humor can be found to brighten days and avenues to various treatment options within a few clicks can be immensely positive. Digital media use has been shown to be associated with greater well-being and offer social connectedness in youth when used in moderation. Evidence collected from patterns in youth media usage has been employed to determine if someone could be at risk for certain behaviors and self-exploration of screening materials found online can assist with identification of personal growth opportunities.

Potential Risks of Social Media and Screen Time

Potential risks include engagement in social comparison (which can be especially harmful on body image), information overload, increased depression and anxiety as well as isolation. In large scale, complied research studies there appears to be a relationship between how long youth spends online with the impact on their mental health, with more time spent leading to more negative outcomes. Those who are more active media users, meaning creating content and interacting with others, can have an increased risk for cyberbullying, victimization and risky online behaviors. Passive users, frequently doom scrolling and consuming more information at night, can suffer from envy, isolation and difficulties related to sleep.

How Screen Time Affects Sleep and Emotional Well-Being

Delayed sleep onset, shorter sleep durations, decreased sleep quality and increased daytime sleepiness have all been reported. Poor sleep has been significantly associated with poor mental health in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Understanding the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 5 C’s of Media Use

Given the complexity of all factors involved, it can be daunting to make sense of the research while putting a plan into place for a person’s specific household. The American Academy of Pediatrics has created “The 5 C’s of Media Use” to help navigate this issue. The 5 C’s are:

Child

Each child’s unique features including maturity and needs are to be considered (ie. Are they socially anxious? Can they easily lose track of time or struggle to transition between tasks? Do they want to share an artistic gift they possess?).

Content

What type of information is being watched/consumed while online (this requires caregivers to know what the young person is viewing in order to assess appropriateness in terms of role models, commercialism, extreme content, unhealthy standards, and trends)?

Calm

Is media use happening as a coping skill without alternative options to be able to handle feelings or fall asleep?

Crowding Out

What is digital media use pushing out of the way in order to have time for it (ie. Is homework being done? Is bedtime being delayed? Are family gatherings being missed?)?

Communication

Discussions around media are recommended in order to build digital literacy skills and raise awareness to problematic use if noticed.

How Caregivers Can Support Healthy Digital Media Habits Proactive discussions around privacy, boundaries with others, and rules with technology use keep expectations clear. Beyond conversations, caregivers will ideally model expected behavior with technology use for the young people in their lives. Working with youth to address concerns when they arise, caregivers can serve as partners in handling the all-encompassing presence of media use in daily life. While the topic of stipulations and limitations can feel uncomfortable, starting the conversation before unsupervised digital media use begins can be directly protective for youth mental health and ultimately beneficial for the family relationship. Online platforms are vying for everyone’s time, so there’s no time like the present to assure that digital media use is having a positive impact on the mental health of the youth in our communities.