Chapter 3 - Social media and young adults

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Social media usage among young adults has increased dramatically in recent years. With more time spent using social media, this chapter seeks to inform the reader of current research-based findings about the mental health of young adults as related to social media use and provide an educational discussion about the impact of social media use on mental health among young adults. Ways to promote healthy habits when using social media for recreation or professional purposes are discussed, along with questions for discussion among educators and mental health professionals. Researchers are exploring the effects of social media and its application to a variety of issues relevant to young adults. Young adults were the earliest adopters of social media and have continued to use social media at high levels. Since young adults are spending more time on social media, they are spending less time engaged in the social activities common to previous generations of young adults. The effects of these differences in social activity have been and continue to be explored in psychology, medicine, and education. Social media “influencers” have increased sway on individual activities. The use of social media by young adults has enormous potential for both positive youth development with social and professional connections, as well as concerns for mental health and focus. Key findings suggest that social media offers individuals with a communication mode for connection, sharing, and relationship building both online and offline, as well as understanding that some mental health issues are independent of social media use. Research has focused on the impact of social media use on adolescent sense of self, social media addiction, the impact of smartphones on social skills, sleep loss due to social media use, and the impact on mental health.