Swipe, Scroll, Stress
- Medha Modekurti
- Dec 30, 2024
- 5 min read
It’s 10 pm and you’re sitting in bed, scrolling endlessly on social media. You glance at the clock and think only a few more minutes. You know you have to sleep. You have a big test tomorrow. Before you know it, a few minutes turns into 6 hours, and now it's 3 am. You have to be awake in 3 hours to get ready for school. Exhausted, you shut your phone, wondering how it got this late.
This scenario is all too common for teens today. Social media platforms are designed to keep you engaged, and hours can slip by without realizing it. From comparing yourself to others’ highlight reels to being bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards, social media can leave a lasting impact on your mental health, self-esteem, and even your physical well-being. This article will explore how endless social media scrolling can affect mental and physical health and provide tips for better use.
Social Media Addiction
By definition, social media addiction is “characterized as being overly concerned about social media, driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on to or use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other important life areas” (Addiction Center). Psychologists say 5-10% of Americans meet this standard today.
Social media addiction is attributed to the dopamine-inducing social environments that social media apps provide. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram create the same neural circuitry that gambling and drugs create to keep their users hooked on their products. Neuroscientists have compared social media interactions to a syringe of dopamine inserted into the body. Once the brain experiences the dopamine rush, the high from using social media becomes harder to resist.
Why Teens are More Vulnerable
Teens experience the second biggest period of growth in the brain. During this period, teens’ brains are more susceptible to anything addictive, including social media. According to Nancy DeAngelis, CRNP, Director of Behavioral Health, Jefferson Health - Abington, “The overuse of social media can actually rewire a young child or teen’s brain to constantly seek out immediate gratification, leading to obsessive, compulsive and addictive behaviors”. As a result, mental health disorders such as body dysmorphia, anxiety and depression may become worse.
A CNN study with 13-year-olds and their relationship with social media found that those who checked social media 50-100 times a day were 37% more stressed than those who checked it just a few times a day. Those who checked it over 100 times a day were 47% more stressed.
Signs of Social Media Addiction
Some signs of social media addiction may look similar to signs of other addictions.
Signs of social media addiction include:
Mood modification
Excessive time spent on social media
Skipping social events
Reduction in other activities and exercise
Poor grades
Anxiety when phone is taken away
Signs of addiction will vary from person to person; not all teens may show all these signs. The signs of addiction, in part, have to do with the reasons why the teen is addicted in the first place. Regardless of teens' reasons and signs, methods for reducing dependency are the same. Consciously aiming to reduce time on social media can be a healthy choice for everyone.
Unhealthy Use of Social Media
As a teen starts using social media more and more daily, they develop unhealthy screen habits that impede their learning, friendship and more. For example, social media addiction can cause teens to let go of their routine. They may be constantly distracted from homework, exercise and evening spending time with family.
In addition, social media is a hotspot for a lot of news and information. To a good extent, these pieces of information are biased or incorrect. Teens can view the information and believe it to be true even if it isn’t. As a result, they develop biased views on certain topics without understanding its context or overall idea.
Teens also have increased chances of developing body dysmorphia or eating disorders based on what they see online. By seeing images of people who look more “fit” or “skinny” leads teens to develop unrealistic views about other’ bodies or lives. This may hamper their view on their own life, leading them to be unsatisfied with what they have.
Effect on Teens' Mental Health
Teens who use social media constantly have an increased chance of having mental health issues including depression and anxiety. A study of American teens found that depression and anxiety were more common in teens using social media for over three hours a day. Other studies find that there is a higher chance of harm in teen girls who are already experiencing poor mental health. When coupled with social media addiction, there is a higher chance for health outcomes like body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and lack of quality sleep.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has called for social media companies to prioritize users' well-being over revenue, especially as studies have shown that social media has negative health outcomes on teens. The American Association of Pediatrics also warned that increased screen time for children and teens leads to increased risks of attention deficits, increased aggression, low self-esteem, and depression.
Effect on Teens' Physical Health
The effect of social media addiction on both adults’ and teens' physical health is relatively the same. However, since adolescents’ brains are still developing, it may be harder to reverse the physical effects due to the psychological impact caused by social media addiction.
Below are some physical health effects:
Musculoskeletal problems: Phones are the most convenient device to check for social media updates because of their small size and portability. However, constant use of the phone leads to chronic poor posture. Common problems of poor posture include wrist and thumb, neck and upper back pain, digital eye strain problems like headaches, and vision difficulties.
Nutrition: Numerous food and beverage companies use social media to bombard viewers with ads of their products. Children who constantly view these ads cause children to develop unhealthy food habits. As a result, their chance of developing hypertension, obesity, and diabetes can increase.
Inactive lifestyle: Constant use of devices encourages an inactive or sedentary lifestyle. A lack of exercise causes an unhealthy weight gain. In addition, excessive use of social media leads to lack of interest in in-person activities or hobbies. It can also lead to sleep deprivation as teens may check their social media through the night as well. These factors increase a teen’s chances of getting obesity, hypertension, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Physical growth: The inactive lifestyle mentioned above coupled with a lack of proper nutrition leads to a reduced amount of nutrient intake such as calcium and vitamin D2. This causes reduced bone density which can lead to bone issues such as juvenile osteoporosis.
Disease caused by inflammation: A study conducted by University of Buffalo found that excessive use of social media may increase levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). This inflammation marker is a precursor to health conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
The effects of excessive social media use are clear—mental health struggles, physical ailments, and a growing sense of disconnection from real-world interactions. While social media connects us in incredible ways, it also has the power to isolate, overwhelm, and harm if not used mindfully. Recognizing the signs of overuse and taking proactive steps to create healthier habits is essential.
Challenge yourself to set boundaries with your screen time, prioritize in-person connections, and reclaim the hours lost to endless scrolling. Start small: commit to no-phone zones during meals or an hour of screen-free time before bed. These little actions can make a big difference. The next time you feel the pull to swipe and scroll, pause and ask yourself: What do I really gain from this?
Resources:
https://www.erikscause.org/ and https://fairplayforkids.org/fairplay-partners-in-ai-psychological-harms-research-coalition/ are working to bring this information you write about to schools.
On March 24, join Fairplay’s Action Network Director, Jean Rogers, for a conversation with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, neuroscientist, researcher and author of The Digital Delusion. This event is designed specifically for educators, administrators and education leaders. Invite your school's teachers, your school administrators and your school boards. As a special treat, 3 lucky attendees will receive a copy of Jared's new book!
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4JN0OHgiQlahoLRlRHxuAw#/registration
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