This document discusses the relationship between social media use and mental health in youth. It reports that youth spend on average 7 hours per day using social media, and that 25% of teens who use social media for over 2 hours daily experience poor mental health. The document also notes that cyberbullying is a public health concern associated with negative consequences like depression, and that early depression in youth is linked to later psychosocial issues. Finally, it states that parenting guidance is needed to help youth have healthy social media habits and avoid potential problems like bullying, inappropriate content, and body image issues promoted on some sites.

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“Using social media web-sites is among the
most common activity of today’s children and
adolescents” (2)

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“Youth spend an average of 7 hours a day using
some source of social media” (5)

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“It is important that parents
become aware of the nature of
social media sites, given that
not all of them are healthy
environments for children and
adolescents” (2)

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“Many schools have “zero
tolerance” policies for bullying
and cyberbullying, even though
zero tolerance has not been
shown to improve school climate
or school safety” (8)

6. “Pediatricians are in a
unique position to help
families understand these
sites and to encourage
healthy use and urge parents
to monitor for potential
problems with
cyberbullying, “Facebook
depression”, sexting and
exposure to inappropriate
content” (2)
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7. “Panorexia and
probulimia sites as
well as online
communities are
publicly available;
they are interactive
and promote
“thinspiration”
(inspirational pictures
of extremely thin
bodies)” (1)
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8. “Cyber victims may experience an
anonymous attacker who instantly disperses
fabricated photos throughout a large social
network” (7)
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“Cyberbullying is
known as an
emerging public
health concern
that has been
associated with
multiple serious
negative
consequences”
(6)

10. “Willful and repeated harm
inflicted through the use of
computers, cell phones, and other
electronic devices” (6)
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11. “Study found that
25% of teens who
are on social media
for more that two
hours a day,
reported poor self-
rated mental health,
psychological
distress, suicide
ideation, or unmet
need for mental
health support” (1)
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“Recent prevalence studies
have suggested that 2% to 8%
of young people experience
their first episode of major
depression by age 16” (4)

13. “Young people having early
depression were at increased risk
of later adverse psychosocial
outcomes” (4)
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14. “Cyber victims may be
more likely to feel
isolated, dehumanized or
helpless at the time of an
attack” (7)
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15. “An aggressive
intentional act carries
out by a group or
individual, using
electronic forms of
contact, repeatedly
and over time against
a victim who cannot
easily defend him or
herself” (6)
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16. “Sense of belonging is defined as the experience of personal
involvement in a system or environment so that persons feel
themselves to be an integral part of that system or environment”
(3)
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17. “Social media has made it so easy for people to present
themselves as well as learn about another person online.
Exposure to this type of media has a great impact on peoples
psychological well being”
(1)
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“Self-esteem is defined as a
personal judgement of the
worthiness that is
expression in the attitudes
the individual holds toward
his/her self” (9)

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“People’s habit of using social
media can influence their level
of self-esteem” (9)

20. References
1. Bauman, Sheri, Russell B. Toomey, and Jenny L. Walker. "Associations among bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide in high
school students." Journal of Adolescence 36.2 (2013): 341-50. Web.
2. Fergusson, David M. and Lianne J. Woodward. "Mental Health, Educational, And Social Role Outcomes Of Adolescents
With Depression". N.p., 2017. Print.
3. Hagerty, Bonnie M.k., Judith Lynch-Sauer, Kathleen L. Patusky, Maria Bouwsema, and Peggy Collier. "Sense of belonging:
A vital mental health concept." Archives of Psychiatric Nursing 6.3 (1992): 172-77. Web.
4. Matrix, Sidneyeve. “Advertising Strategies.” Ellis Hall Auditorium, Kingston. 10, Jan. 2017
5. Matrix, Sidneyeve. “Media Convergence.” Ellis Hall Auditorium, Kingston. 24, Jan. 2017
6. O'Keeffe, G. S. and K. Clarke-Pearson. "The Impact Of Social Media On Children, Adolescents, And Families". N.p., 2017.
Print.
7. Payne, Elizabeth. “Teens’ Poor Mental Health Linked to Social Media Use.” The Ottawat Citizen (2015): n. pag. Web.
8. Selkie, Ellen M., Rajitha Kota, Ya-Fen Chan, and Megan Moreno. "Cyberbullying, Depression, and Problem Alcohol Use in
Female College Students: A Multisite Study." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 18.2 (2015): 79-86. Web.
9. Strasburger, Victor C., Amy B. Jordan, and Ed Donnerstein. “Health Effects of Media Use.” American Academy of
Pediatrciains 125.4 (2010): n. pag. Web.
10. Wang, Jing, Tonja R. Nansel, and Ronald J. Iannotti. "Cyber and Traditional Bullying: Differential Association With
Depression." Journal of Adolescent Health 48.4 (2011): 415-17. Web.