Addicted to their smartphones, Gen Z teens are exposing themselves to more risks to their mental health. A study revealed that certain social networks promote depressive symptoms.
A constant flow of images, harmful for your teenagers. The smartphone, and particularly social networks, have invaded the daily lives of digital natives. A use which is not without risk since a study carried out by the BVA institute for the Jean-Jaurès Foundation last October revealed that certain platforms provoked a form of isolation, negative emotions and other behavioral disorders. So, what are the most criticized applications?
The BVA institute reveals in a recent study that nearly one in two adolescents confides “wanted to lose weight after seeing pretty photos of people around him”. An alarming finding supported by research by Amy Gentzler, professor of psychology at WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in the United States. She declared: “Researchers often try to find direct associations between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms. This sometimes holds true, but it is not the same association for everyone. Some people may be more prone to experience negative rather than positive feelings when using social media. Indeed, not all adolescents are equal in the face of this tumult of social networks and the consequences can vary depending on the application used.
Amy Gentzler then looked at 237 boys and girls aged 14 to 16, from the same state. This studied how the use of social networks was linked to signs of sadness or depression. It appears that the TikTok application is associated with higher signs of depression than its competitors among adolescents who naturally have a propensity for negative thinking. Another harmful social network: Instagram. The platform would promote depressive symptoms among the most withdrawn young people. Amy Gentzler specifies: “This may be because extroverted teens are likely to have more friends who will like and interact with their posts, making their experience on Instagram more rewarding. Additionally, extroverted people tend to have a more positive outlook and can interpret negativity on social media in a more positive way.”
Finally, Youtube is at the top of the ranking as a harmful social network. The study suggests that adolescents who regularly consume YouTube have higher levels of depressive symptoms, and this association does not vary by gender,self esteem or personality. This is why scientists invite adolescents to evaluate their psychological state after each moment spent on social networks: When I scroll through the pages, what do I think about? Do I feel better or worse after scrolling TikTok for 30 minutes? To share with your friends!