Social Media Depression Essay

Social Media Depression One out of every three adolescents experiences cyberbullying in his or her lifetime. One out of five young adults has also cyberbullied another person. A clinical trial recently proved the fact that social media and depression are linked and that social media depression is pervasive in the lives of teens and young adults. According to doctors Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson in the clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “‘Facebook depression,’ defined as depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression.” Social media depression can be similar to common depressions, …show more content…
Many pediatricians now look to parents to limit children and adolescent use and availability of social media. “In the area of social media use among children and adolescents, she advises parents to look at their children’s social media use in the context of their entire lives”(Mental Health Weekly Digest). Obstacles around social media limits are significant. Teens have a lot of free time, time used for internet surfing, making it hard for parents to have any effect. Problems within these limits stem from a parent’s lack of technological knowledge and experience with social media. “Pediatricians are in a unique position to educate families about both the complexities of the digital world and the challenging social and health issues that online youth experience by encouraging families to face the core issues of bullying, popularity and status, depression and social anxiety, risk-taking, and sexual development”(O’Keeffe and Clarke-Pearson). Technological advances have created apps for everything, increasing time on a phone or tablet. Many adolescents fear missing out on things surrounding social media. “‘The intensity of the online world is thought to be a factor that may trigger depression in some adolescents’”(O’Keeffe). Constantly refreshing Twitter and Facebook, teens commonly wait for posts and wonder through social media out of …show more content…
“Researchers disagree on whether Facebook depression is an extension of clinical symptoms of depression some kids feel in other circumstances, or a distinct condition”(CBC News). It is hard to distinguish differences between clinical and facebook depression, which can be brought about from similar sources. Isolationism and bullying can be important factors in both cases. “...they found no significant associations between social media use and the probability of depression”(Mental Health Weekly Digest). Social media is a fun way to share pictures and feelings among an atmosphere of friends. Many tweens and teens are addicted to social media and phone use. Constant knowledge of social media updates are necessary to staying in touch with the digital world. “...many of us are addicted to it-and why not, for it is the quickest way to contact our friends and make a long ‘friend’s