The Impact Smartphones Have on Youth - Mental Health

By Khalil Wilson

Although smart phones are reliable, fun and seem to be the best thing since sliced bread they do have detrimental effects on the youth and how the grow up. Not every child in the world is affected the same by phones or social media some break the "habit' believing to be followed by most. In this same way, it is hard to directly establish a cause-and-effect relationship between mental health and technology usage in youth.  

Studies have shown that more than 80% of teenagers have smartphones and acquire their first by the age 11 and younger, all the while numbers of admitting's to hospitals for attempted suicide is doubling simultaneously. Researchers were able to collect evidence that supports the idea that when young people use social media it affects their sense of self. There are also tons of other research that was conducted that support the overreaching idea that social media use is associated with depression and suicide in youth, holding true even more for girls. 

Social media places stigmas around what is socially accepted and what is not, which can tend to make a lot of teens and youth feel like they have to conform and become something they are not. On top of handling school and family matters, negative experiences on social media can result in a range of mental health issues and increase attempted suicides.