THE EFFECTS AND CAUSES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH

OF THE TEENAGERS

Presented to Ma.Cristina F. Lombart

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements in English 10

by

Albina, Caroline M.

Badon, Mary Kathryn C.

Bendijo, Angel Jane J.

Calbog, Andhrey

Calingacion, Fraulien D.

Fortich, John Carl M.

Gajano, Josiah J.

Gallofin, Chenny M.

Paglinawan, Jeffrey S.

Rio, Grace S.

June 09,2023

Negros Oriental High School

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TITLE:The Effects and Causes of social media on the mental health of teenagers

THESIS STATEMENT:The excessive use of social media is causing negative impacts on

mental health like an increase in anxiety,depression and low self-esteem.

I.MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

II.TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

A. Anxiety Disorders

B. Depression

C. Eating disorder

D. Bipolar Disorder

E. Post-traumatic stress disorder

F. Schizophrenia

G. Diruptive behaviour and dissocial disorder

H. Neurodevelopmental disorder

III. CAUSES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

A. Childhood abuse,trauma,or neglect

B. Social isolation or loneliness

C. Experiencing discrimination

D. Social disadvantage,poverty or debt

E. Bereavement

F. Severe or lung-term stress

G. Having a long-term physical health condition

IV. EFFECTS OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

 A. Unhappiness and decreased equipment of life

B. Family conflicts

C. Relationship difficulties

D. Social isolation

E. Problems with tabacco,alcohol and other drugs

F. Missed work for school

G. Legal and financial problems

H. Poverty and homelessness

V. WAYS TO PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

A. Talk about your feelings

B. Get a good night’s sleep

C. Eat well

D. Stay active

E. Practice mindfulness

F. Keep in touch with supportive friends

G. Care for others

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INTRODUCTION

In the digital age, social media has become an integral part of the lives

of teenagers, revolutionizing the way they communicate, share information, and interact

with others. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter offer

unprecedented opportunities for connection, self-expression, and access to a vast array of

information. However, the rise of social media has also raised concerns about its impact

on the mental health and well-being of teenagers.

Fersko (2018) stated that this generation raised on smartphones.it's no

surprise that social media has become a staple in the daily lives of teenagers. recent

studies have shown that excessive social media use can have serious consequences on a

young person's mental health.

The aim of this essay is to explore the effects of social media on the

mental health of teenagers. While social media can provide valuable benefits, including

social support, entertainment, and educational opportunities, it is essential to

acknowledge the potential negative consequences it may have on adolescents' mental

well-being. By examining both the positive and negative aspects, we can gain a

comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between social media and

teenage mental health (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022).

Based on Burch (2022) the purpose of this study is to discuss the positive

aspects of social media, highlighting its potential for fostering social connections,

promoting self-expression, and enhancing access to information. It will then delve into
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the negative impacts, such as cyberbullying, social comparison, addiction, and the

cultivation of unrealistic expectations. Additionally, the essay will explore the potential

influence of social media on body image dissatisfaction, sleep disturbances, and anxiety

and depressive symptoms among teenagers.

BODY

World health organization (2022) mentioned eight types of metal health

problem.These are Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Eating disorder, Bipolar Disorder,

Post-traumatic stress disorder, Schizophrenia, Diruptive behaviour and dissocial disorders,

and Neurodevelopmental disorder.

The causes of mental health problem are childhood abuse, trauma,or

neglect, social isolation or loneliness, experiencing discrimination, social disadvantage,

poverty or debt bereavement, severe or lung-term stress, and having a long-term physical

health condition (Mind, 2017).

As mentioned by Mayo clinic (2022) the effects of mental health

problem are unhappiness and decreased equipment of life, family conflicts, relationship

difficulties, social isolation, problems with tabacco, alcohol and other drugs, missed work

for school legal and financial problems,and poverty and homelessness.

There are ways to prevent mental health problem.These are talk about

your feelings, get a good night’s sleep, eat well, stay active, practice mindfulness, keep in

touch with supportive friends, and care for others (Mental health foundation, 2021).

Mir & Seymour (2023) stated that most adolescents and young adults

use social media. Although social media can allow people to reach out and connect with
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others,it can also make some people worse. Depression is particularly increasing among

girls and some researchers have suggested that this increase in mental illness is,at least in

part,connected to the rise of social media use among adolescents and young adults.

A recent study has already found that excessive time spent on social

media leads to depression. In this study, there is an association between time spent on

social media and the number of social networking sites. Day by day consumption of

media negatively affects the children, preteens, and adolescents by making them

increasingly inclined to depression, anxiety, and other mental issues, just as making them

progressively defenseless to future medical (Rajesh & Priya, (2020).

Based on Albano (2021),growing research finds that the more time

spent on social media, the more likely a person will experience mental health problems.

This can exacerbate their feelings of alienation, hopelessness, isolation, anxiety, and

depression. If you stay online, you may get false sense that the world is too harmful or

dangerous.

Several high-quality studies have come that can directly test whether

social media causes depression. Instead of being murky and mixed,they support each

other and show clear effects. Rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness were rising and

too much social media can cause the mental health of the teenagers (Doucleff, 2023).

As mentioned by Mdoradoni (2020) one of the primary features of

social media is chatting.Constant chatting with other people without feeling their physical

pressure is one reason for the increase in mental health is among the social media

users.The outcome is more loneliness,a common factor in psychological deterioration

while chatting may not directly cause depression and other mental health problem.
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Using social media is not inherently beneficial or harmful to young

people. The effects of social media are dependent on adolescents own personal and

psychological characteristics and social circumstances. The effects of social media likely

depend on what teens can do and see online, teens’ preexisting strengths or vulnerabilities,

and the contexts in which they grow up (Murthy, 2023).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion social media can also harm not just to the teenagers but

also to the adolescents and the children. Spending too much time on social media cause

teenager to encounter health issue such as anxiety, depression, and inclination toward

suicide. The pressure that social media has on these youths is alarming as they are

influenced to keep up with their appearance (Yuan, 2022).

For teens and young adults, social media plays a defining role in

performing and identify. But the pressures of portraying the perfect life on social media

can lead to depression and other serious mental health issues. There’s still a lot we don’t

know about how social media use will affect the lives of teens and young adults in long

term but some emerging research suggest it may pose harms to their mental health and

well being (Vogt, 2021).

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References

Albano,A. (2021,October). Is social media threatening teens mental health

and well-being.cuimc.columbia.

https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/social-media-threatenung-teens-mental-

health-and-well-being

Burch, K. (2022). How does social media affect teanagers?.insider

https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-

does-social-media-affect-teenagers

Doucleff, M. (2023,July). How social media use impacts teen mentalhealth.npr

https://www.npr,org/sections/health-shots /2023/05/17/1176452284

/teens-social-media-phone-habit

Fersko, H. (2018,October 9). Is social media bad for teens mental health?.unicef

https://www.unicef.org/stories/social-media-bad-teens-mental-health

Mayo clinic. (2022,June). Effects of mental health problems.mayoclinic.org

htt ps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditionsmental-illness/symptoms-causes

/syc-203

Mayo clinic staff. (2022).Teens and social media use:what’s the impact.mayoclinic

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/on-depth/tee

ns-and-social-media-use/art-20474437

Mdoradoni, H. (2020). Froutierism.The effect of social media on development of students

affective variables

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010766/full

Mental health foundation. (2021). Ways to prevent mental health

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Problem.mentalhealth.org

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-ztopics/prevention-and

-mental-health

Mind. (2017). Causes of mental health problems.minduk

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/

mental-health-problems-introduction/causes/https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ex

plore-mental-health/a-z-topics/prevention-an

Mir, E., & Seymour, M. (2023). Social media and adolescent and young adults mental

health.center4research

htptps://www.center4reseach.org/social-media-affects-mental-health/?fbclid=iw

AROS_cVqHjzRoKi-cfy28j42hMGuBwP5abN4jY87omrFs

Murthy, V. (2023). Health advisory on social media use in adolescene.apa

https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-soci

al-media-use?fbclid=iwAR1BhC7ZzyiTbM10Q20vD

Rajesh, D.,& Priya, K. (2020).Impact of social media on mental health of

students.researchgate

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340779328_IMPACT_OF_SOCIAL_U

MEDIA_ON_MENTAL_HEALTH_OF_STUDENTS

Vogth, C. (2021,September).Under pressure:Are the stresses of social media too much for

teens and young adults.journals.sagepub.com

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/05390184211050850

World health organization. (2022,January). Types of mental health problem.who.int

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders
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Yuan, H. (2022). Atlantis press.Effects of social media on teenagers mental health

https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ssha-22/125972533

.
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APPENDICES
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The effects and causes of social media on the mental well-being of teenagers

Guide questions:

1.What is mental health?

2.Does social media do good for the teenagers mental health?

3.What are the benefits of social media for the mental health of the teenagers?

4.What is social media?

5.How does social media and mental health problems affect academic performance?

6.Does social media really affect the mental health of the teenagers?

7.How do we overcome mental health problem?

8.What are the disadvantages of social media that can cause mental health problem?

9.What are the hazards brought by social media?

10.How does social media cause stress to teenagers?