Empowering Youth: Nurturing Mental Well-Being in Innovation & Technology

This blog is the fifth in a 5-part series that YouthxYouth has collaborated on with SecondMuse's program, Headstream, to support uplifting the wisdom from Co-creators within Headstream’s Youth Collective program, the Co-Creator Club.

‍

Taking Off in 3..2..1

Social media has a way of bringing everyone from all walks of life together. From newborns to grandma and grandpa’s. Funny videos between family and friends scope the internet daily. For many, social media is a place where we can all come together and share about our lives. Nowadays people use social media to document their journeys through life and even fashion. Being able to share your accomplishments is a great way to empower yourself and those around you. It doesn’t stop there. Social media helps you connect with long distance loved ones. Social media is also a great way to learn about social movements like Mental Health Matters, Body Positivity, The Youth Climate Strike, and many more. Seeing how much change the world needs can lead to young people feeling discouraged and naturally conflicted about their place in the world. Sometimes, when you see people struggling with these experiences on the day-to-day, you might start to question whether reposting, sharing, commenting, or even learning more is enough.  The truth is even the smallest of things are often what start the biggest of change. 

‍

Social media often promotes norms and expectations of having a perfect life that everyone seems to want to follow. However, if you don't have the finances or resources to live that way, it may feel unattainable.  The desire to be skinny has become a widespread norm, equating thinness with being "desirable." While there's been progress with more plus-size inclusivity, it's still not enough. Social media issues go beyond just body image—many people strive for a lifestyle that isn't meant for everyone. Everyone has a unique purpose and distinct differences, but social media often fails to celebrate that individuality.

‍

Houston, We Have a Problem: Social Media and it’s Young Users

As we begin to delve into social media’s effect on its young users, we must look through the lens of each party to gain a deeper understanding. Young users look to media outlets to express themselves, find marginalized groups to identify with, or even escape the pressures of their own lives. But one of the largest motives, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and numerous alternate studies, is a seemingly much easier answer: boredom. This is critical when we understand the purpose of social media, to entertain. The use of social media goes hand-in-hand with boredom and the dopamine crave we experience when we aren’t stimulated. Social media companies do a great job of recognizing this and curating our feeds to maintain that stimulation. This can create a threatening cycle of reliance on social media as a “cure” for boredom. 

‍

The term “doom scrolling” has become increasingly popular in recent years as users get attached to the consistent stimulation and entertainment available with a few clicks. The content recommendation algorithm allows users to interact with content based on their preferences and previous views, which has unique implications on young users. Adolescents, teens, and young adults experience many societal pressures to conform to expectations predicated on gender norms, race, or even academic standards. 

‍

Once young people internalize these insecurities and expectations, unsurprisingly they can pop up in feeds. A body image concern may look like excessive fitness content or academic stress can turn into videos about “hustle culture.” These messages will be repeated on feeds as users interact, sending out hurtful messages to impressionable consumers. This creates a parasitic relationship as social media sites gain clicks while young individuals exacerbate insecurities and internalize pressures.

‍

Lost In Saturn Rings

The digital world influences our communities to feel the need to be “perfect”. Filters and other editing gimmicks have been commonly used for fun or to maintain a “perfect” appearance. This idea can trick your mind to believe these filters are “realistic”. It is easy to be manipulated by the things we see on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc.  Social Media has quickly fostered unattainable standards to always be and have the “best”. Only the best cars, “best” body, etc. These unrealistic expectations of “beauty”, an article by Healthline discusses a survey that connects the effects of social media usage to negative body image issues and eating disorder symptoms. The survey also shows the effects of different forms of social media and how they affected people's body image, eating symptoms, and anabolic steroid consumption. The many factors including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Snapchat. Social media can be found to promote unhealthy eating habits and fitness routines that can manipulate young minds into believing that these are “healthy” habits that they need to maintain. A high percentage of people suffer from eating disorders and unhealthy body image issues.  

‍

An article by the Banklinko Team shows stats of what young people spend daily on screens. An estimated average of screen times in the US is about 7 hours and 3 minutes. Young people spend most of their time on screens (social media). Half a percentage of young people believe that social media negatively impacts their personal life, body image, way of thinking, and comparisons.  An article by Pew Research center/ Monica Anderson, Michelle Faverio, and Eugenie Park from Pew Research Center explains that “72% of U.S. teens say they often or sometimes feel peaceful when they don’t have their smartphone” as well as explaining about 38% “teens say they spend too much time on their phone or social media” vs not being on them enough. Another survey by Pew Research Center shows how almost three quarters of young people feel better when they don’t use their phones; meanwhile 44% feel anxious, lonely, and are upset.

‍

Personal Interviews: “How do you think social media affects your mental health?” One response said “I think social media affects my mental health in weird ways like there's been times I've experienced waves of sadness or anxiousness with scrolling all day and not doing anything productive. I feel like social media can be like a weird enchantment that pulls you in without an escape.” In an instagram story I asked the question “How important is it to have support when concerning your mental health?” One response said “Very! Having friends who support you and genuinely check in. Also having God”.  When asking fellow peers about the importance of mental well-being, 4 out 5 of them believe that it is extremely important to take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health. 3 out 5 of them shared sentiments similar to: in a world that can feel like you’re drowning, it is important to make sure that everyone has a float. We are all here to help each other and if we can’t do that, then we will drown ourselves. The importance of having people be there for you when you're going through a rough time shined throughout these two questions. As well as making time for yourself to focus on your mental health.

‍

An article by Makayla Boney “A Call for Youth Centered Mental Health Resources” discusses the issues that young people go through considering mental health. The youth are often painted with stereotypes of “being too young to understand” or “Some young people might not pay bills, or provide for a household”, “...but we are impacted by current events and many other underlying issues, and without a parent or a guardian, we have limited access to support.” There aren't many resources for young people without cost and the need of a parent or guardian. The article also talks about how taking care of your mental health should be a life goal. 

‍

365 Days Orbiting Around The Sun 

While there are positive factors for young people using social media and other apps to be creative, find friends, learn new things, help with school, and innovate, a lack of balance can cause concern. Decluttering your social media every once in a while so that it caters to your personality, makes your feed more positive, and gives you inspiration. Many young people don’t like the discomfort of sitting in silence. Silence helps with concentration and focus. Finding new and fun things other than being on your digital device like reading a fantasy book, scrapbooking, making collages on Pinterest can serve as healthy alternatives.

‍

Blast Off!

So… how do these strategies look within innovation? In order to access solutions, we must hold a mirror to tech companies, youth co-creation spaces, and creative roundtables. How do we want the future to look? These spaces all include human interaction and feeling. To implement solutions, users must be more than data figures and become “clients” to be heard and catered to.

• Youth Roundtables and Advisory Boards: To truly understand the client, it’s critical to see through their perspective and care about the issues impacting their life and product use. A great way to access these perspectives are through roundtables and advisory boards. These spaces give youth the opportunity to voice their opinion and improve apps and media sources they use daily. This can look like a network of nation-wide users in a meeting answering user-based questions or a suggestions area for users. Regardless of the starting point, it is critical to listen to your clients and make their journey a healthier and more enjoyable road.
• Social-Media Free Breaks: It’s imperative in any space to enjoy breaks during long meetings, projects, or even between tasks. Unfortunately, as a society we frequently reach for our phones during idle or even “bored” moments. The promotion of social media free breaks needs to be implemented within innovative spaces but also within our lives. This decreases the chances of “doom scrolling” and increases the probability of gaining connections within workplaces and innovative spaces. In order to be innovative, connection is crucial. Carving spaces away from social media to create meaningful, face-to-face connection is of the utmost importance for improving mental health in stressful spaces. It is our responsibility to ourselves to set boundaries with social media usage, reach out to colleagues and possible friends, and engage in offline activities. Looking for connection and fulfillment outside of social media when boredom occurs can lessen the extent of societal pressures and harmful messaging that may stem from excessive use.
• Expand your Awareness: Boredom and societal pressures are a dangerous combination, leading many students to scroll for hours while constantly comparing themselves to idealized images. This intense comparison breeds and perpetuates personal insecurities, particularly around appearance, and can trap young people in a cycle of harmful messages that falsely promise solutions. It’s crucial to do research and inform others on the dangers of social media and subconscious effects. 

‍

As the Mission Comes to an End…

Social media connects billions around the world today through funny videos, beautiful art, and meaningful messages. The entertainment platforms, while fun and intriguing, are designed to maintain attention and display content based on interaction. Unfortunately this doesn’t always reflect the best messages for youth and can perpetuate harmful expectations. Social media and innovation companies hold a responsibility to their “clients” to listen to their concerns and promote healthy social media use through breaks, advisory boards, reminders, and more. Young people are constantly battling so many odds faced against them. Many young people are battling with mental health conditions, the main two being depression and anxiety. This is all while their minds are attempting to grow, through the stress of school and societal expectations. It is critical to understand how mental health conditions and various stressors affect and alter young people’s social media use and relationship with online platforms. It's important to change our language and the framework by which we interact with youth. Change “users” to “clients,” “young people” to “the future” and you’ll be surprised how your mindset shifts. The youth population is currently writing our names in history books and carving our place within innovation to expand minds and breach new possibilities for change, action, and revolution, all while putting themselves first and knowing we are the prize. So I urge you, hold a mirror to your social media feeds today, what kind of messages do we want our future leaders to receive?

‍

Plugs!!

Makayla’s podcast - 1-800 Don’t Call Me Call Jesus (This podcast is where we talk about God, current popular topics, daily life, and growing and glowing. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out life all by yourself. This is a place where I come to connect with my community to talk about my current life of events and how I’m personally growing. Sometimes listening to other people’s life issues makes you feel better about yours, honestly. I preach a lot about God and his words so if you’re down to listen to a girl figuring out her life and what it has to offer you at the right place. 100% you’re guaranteed to love it.  

‍

Call to action

We as a community can all start by educating ourselves on the problems youth struggles with daily. Resting and taking care of your body. Giving yourself grace when something doesn't turn out in your favor. Taking part in important social causes that could potentially change the world. Checking in on your friends, asking about how they are feeling as well as sharing how you feel. Doing small things that can brighten someone’s day, even a small smile or waving at a random stranger can brighten up somebody’s day. 

‍

Works Cited

‍

Anderson, Monica, et al. “How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, 11 Mar. 2024, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/03/11/how-teens-and-parents-approach-screen-time/.

Backlinko Team. “Revealing Average Screen Time Statistics for 2024.” Backlinko, 11 Mar. 2024, backlinko.com/screen-time-statistics.

Ferguson, Sian. “Social Media and Body Image: Negative and Positive Effects.” Healthline, 2 May 2024, www.healthline.com/health/social-media-and-body-image#negative-effects.

Mayo Clinic Staff. “How to Help Your Teen Navigate Social Media.” Mayo Clinic, 18 Jan. 2024, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437#:~:text=Social%20media%20lets%20teens%20create.

“Motives for Social Media Use.” Aap.org, 2020, www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/motives-for-social-media-use/. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

‍

The views and content in this blog series are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of YouthxYouth.