Are the Kids All Right? Social Media’s Impact on Teen Mental Health - Frankly Speaking Ep 470

Credits: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™   CME/CE Information and Claim Credit: https://www.pri-med.com/online-education/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-470

Overview: Social media use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents, raising concern about its role in rising rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidality. Although prior evidence has been mixed, emerging studies offer new insights on the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health. Join us as we review current literature and discuss potential strategies to mitigate negative impacts and improve outcomes.

Episode resource links:

• Calvert E, Cipriani M, Dwyer B, et al. Social Media Detox and Youth Mental Health. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(11):e2545245. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45245 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2840489

   

• Clayborne ZM, Capaldi CA, Mehra VM. Associations between digital media use behaviours, screen time and positive mental health in youth: results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):2303. Published 2025 Jul 3. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22874-2
• Grøntved A, Singhammer J, Froberg K, et al. A prospective study of screen time in adolescence and depression symptoms in young adulthood. Prev Med. 2015;81:108-113. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.08.009
• Nagata JM, Memon Z, Talebloo J, et al. Prevalence and Patterns of Social Media Use in Early Adolescents. Acad Pediatr. 2025;25(4):102784. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2025.102784
• Oberle E, Ji XR, Kerai S, Guhn M, Schonert-Reichl KA, Gadermann AM. Screen time and extracurricular activities as risk and protective factors for mental health in adolescence: A population-level study. Prev Med. 2020;141:106291. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106291
• Pieh C, Humer E, Hoenigl A, et al. Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med. 2025;23(1):107. Published 2025 Feb 21. doi:10.1186/s12916-025-03944-z
• Riehm KE, Feder KA, Tormohlen KN, et al. Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(12):1266–1273. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325
• Varona MN, Muela A, Machimbarrena JM. Problematic use or addiction? A scoping review on conceptual and operational definitions of negative social networking sites use in adolescents. Addict Behav. 2022;134:107400. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107400
• Woolf SH. The Youth Mental Health Crisis in the United States: Epidemiology, Contributors, and Potential Solutions. Pediatrics. 2025;156(5):e2025070849. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-070849
• Xiang AH, Martinez MP, Chow T, et al. Depression and Anxiety Among US Children and Young Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(10):e2436906. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.36906
• BBC: Australia has banned social media for kids under 16. How will it work? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp9d3ddqyo

Guest: Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C   Music Credit: Matthew Bugos

Thoughts? Suggestions? Email us at FranklySpeaking@pri-med.com 

The views expressed in this podcast are those of Dr. Domino and his guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pri-Med.