Recognizing Social Media-Related Depression

Abstract

Depression and anxiety in adolescents and young adults is reaching epidemic proportions. From 2005 to 2014, the overall prevalence of depression in adolescents aged 12 to 17 increased from 8.7% to 11.3% and from 2011 to 2018, rates of depression and anxiety in college students increased from 31.5% to 42.2% and 51.5% to 63.6% respectively.1,2 Psychological well-being, a closely related construct, decreased suddenly for adolescents around 2012 and has remained low since that time.3 These trends have been mirrored by a simultaneous increase since 2012 in smartphone adoption and screen-time, particularly social media usage, among American adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these trends: adults in April and May of 2020 were three times as likely to screen positive for depressive and anxiety disorders compared to the year prior.4 Today, social media is omnipresent in the lives of adolescents and adults. The Pew Research Center found that 84% of Americans aged 18-29 adults use at least one social media site and Piper Sandler Investment Research found that the average teen spends 12 hours per week on social media.5,6 Social media usage is a new and important consideration when dealing with and organizing efforts to combat rising depression and anxiety.