Do The Teens In Your Family “Enjoy life”? No! Social Media May Be Why!

Depression and feelings of hopelessness have skyrocketed among teens, social media could be the reason why. Nearly half of teens say they agree with phrases like “I can’t do anything right,” “I do not enjoy life” and “My life is not useful” — roughly twice as many as did just a decade ago. The poll, conducted by the University of Michigan is just the latest startling revelation about youth mental health, as rates of teen anxiety and depression have grown. The No. 1 cause, according to Dr. Jean Twenge, is social media and screen time. In fact, rates of teen depressive symptoms have increased massively since the mass popularization of the smartphone in the early 2010s. Earlier this year, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that teen depression and suicide are on the rise in the social media age. And, while both boys and girls are struggling, it’s a trend that seems to be hitting girls harder.