Minutes

Yang, Chia-chen; Hunhoff, Paul; Lee, Yen; & Abrell, Jonah. (2025). Social media activities with different content characteristics and adolescent mental health: Cross-sectional survey study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e73098. https://doi.org/10.2196/73098

Does social media use affect teens’ mental health in any way? Psychology researchers examined how different social media activities relate to depression and anxiety in teenagers.

Using 2,000 U.S. adolescents, ages 12–18, psychologists measured different types of social media use, including private messaging, posting personal content, sharing positive experiences, and viewing others’ positive posts. They also assessed social comparison, approval anxiety, and depression.

The findings showed that different online activities have different effects. Teens who frequently viewed others’ positive posts report more depression and thoughts of social comparison. Publicly sharing personal information was linked to greater anxiety due to fears of judgment and rejection. However, posting positive experiences and achievements was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety overall.

Conversations about social media often focus on screen time, but this study suggests that how teens use social media may matter more than how much they use it. Educators, parents, and teens! Social media is not simply good or bad. Comparing yourself to others and seeking approval can increase distress, while sharing positive experiences may support wellbeing. Everyone! Post positive, humorous, interesting ideas and experiences. Give praise when due. Make others shine, and you will shine too. 

Written by Dan Peacock B.S.