Is social media impacting your child's mental health? Experts weigh in

(KUTV) — In today's world, we are all connected by the internet, social media and smartphones--especially teenagers.

According to a PEW Research study, 95% of teens use a smartphone and 45% say they are online constantly.

Approximately 70% of teens are on Snapchat and Instagram, and 85% are on YouTube.

Some may think the online "socializing" with peers, classmates and friends would help these teens feel more connected.

Experts say this isn't always the case.

Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, found that students who spend more time using smartphones and other electronic devices are less satisfied with their lives than students who frequently engage in face-to-face interaction.

“We found that teens who spent five or more hours a day online were 71 percent more likely than those who spent less than an hour a day to have at least one suicide risk factor (depression, thinking about suicide, making a suicide plan or attempting suicide). Overall, suicide risk factors rose significantly after two or more hours a day of time online,” Twenge wrote.

Experts say liking or commenting on a post, or keeping a Snapchat streak, isn't the same as catching up in person. In fact, it's not even close.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control released statistics showing teens are more lonely, anxious and depressed than ever before. One-third of teens surveyed by the CDC said they experiencepersistent sadness or hopelessness.

John Richter, director of public policy at the Mental Health Association, told NeaToday that social media is exacerbating this trend.

“Researchers are finding that when someone develops depression and withdraws from peers, they see other people on social media smiling and at parties with friends. It magnifies their sense of isolation,” Richter said.

In 2018, the Child Mind Institute's 2018 Children's Mental Health Report focused on the prevalent role social media has in teenagers' lives.

The report indicates that "youth with a stronger emotional investment in social media are likely to have higher levels of anxiety.”

Despite these results, students are having a hard time putting down their phones.

NeaToday spoke to several educators across the country who reported struggling to detach their students from electronic devices.

In order to help combat the problem, New York and Virginia both became the first states to require mental health education as part of the school curriculum.

Ritcher says it's a start and will help students deal with the pressures of their lives.

“How do we help kids who experience anxiety because of social media? The first step is teaching kids to recognize what anxiety actually is and feels like, and how to seek help,” Richter said.

On the other hand, the London College of International Business reports social media is a great place for student to connect with experts, communicate with other students and conduct research.

Lori Wade, a content writer for Georgetown University, also argues that social media is a good tool for schools to use.

"We live in a digital ecosystem, and it is vital that educational institutions adapt," Carla Dawson, a Digital Marketing Professor at the Catholic University of Cordoba, told Wade.

2News' Beyond the Books unit is investigating how Utah schools are monitoring students activities online on school issued devices. Watch the report on 2News at 10 p.m on Thursday.