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Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

D14 - The Effects of Social Media on Youth Mental Health

Tuesday, April 16, 2024
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM CT
Location: 220/221, Level 2, ACCC
NASW CCB NADAAC NBCC ACCME APA ANCC NY-MHC NY-SW
The Pew Research Center reported in 2019 that 95% of teens age 13 to 17 own a smartphone or have access to one, and 45% say they are online “nearly constantly.” While social media can foster community, technology has developed faster than regulations and safety nets. The Kim Foundation and Lines for Life are two organizations that focus on suicide prevention and youth mental health. In this presentation, TKF will discuss risk and protective factors related to social media and LFL will discuss its Safe Social Spaces program focusing on intervening with youth posting about self-injury and suicide online.

Learning Objectives:

  • The participant will be able to recognize at least three risk factors associated with youth usage of social media sites.
  • The participant will be able to explain and implement at least three protective factors to protect and preserve youth mental health regarding social media use.
  • The participant will be able to compare the positive and negative effects of youth social media use.
  • Participants will be able to discuss the broader importance of crisis intervention standards on apps.
  • Participants will examine the importance of having a presence where youth converge online and how they might advocate for social media responsibility and/or include monitoring as part of their crisis services.