Social media can have a negative impact on a teens mental health as they start to feel their lives are not as good as those portrayed online. Photo: Pixabay. For illustrative purposes.

Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to develop mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, feelings of self-consciousness and low self-esteem.

This is according to research published by American psychiatry journal, JAMA.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, which is October, Fourways-based non-profit Witkoppen Clinic has raised concerns about the impact of social media on teen mental health.

Witkoppen Clinic has raised concerns about the impact of social media on teen mental health. Photo: Pixabay. For illustrative purposes.

Seeing people constantly on holiday or buying expensive things can make young people feel like they are missing out while others are enjoying life. These feelings can promote a compare and despair attitude, which leads teens to search for ways to make their lives more insta-worthy, said Tamsyn Nash, specialist clinic medical officer at Witkoppen Clinic.

Youth from all over South Africa are accessing social media and consuming content that promotes material wealth, and sets unrealistic expectations of what life is supposed to be like.

This can have a negative impact on a teens mental health, as they start to feel their lives are not as good as those portrayed online, said Tamsyn.

Social media use itself doesnt cause problems; Its the side-effects, such as cyber-bullying, the tendency to idolise the lives of others, failure to see friends in real life and lack of sleep which causes problems, she said.

She continued to say social media can cause teens to feel overwhelmed by the pressure to construct a positive image of themselves and their lives.

An example of how young women have attempted to raise their online status is by seeking out blessers older men who buy gifts for them in exchange for sex. For teens struggling financially, this can seem like a viable way to access and imitate the lifestyles they see on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Engaging with blessers opens young women up to sexual predators and increases the risk of teenage pregnancy and contracting STIs such as HIV. Social media can put vulnerable youth at an even higher risk.

At Witkoppen Clinic, we encourage young people to think carefully about what they see on social media. If you feel like its taking a toll on your mental health, take a break for a day or two and remember that social media does not equal reality.

Witkoppen Clinic provides comprehensive healthcare to almost 10 000 patients every month. Their specialist clinic offers counselling and support for people of all ages struggling with mental health issues. Based at 105 William Nicol Drive, Fourways, Johannesburg, the clinic is open from 7.30am to 4pm every weekday. The first visit is free.

For more information on the other services Witkoppen Clinic provides, visit their website at http://www.witkoppen.org.za.

Follow this link:
The impact of social media on teen mental health - Randfontein Herald