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Social Media and Screentime Student Resources

SBIRT Resources For Students & Teens

Did you know?

In 2023, about 3 out of 4 high school students used social media several times per day. Social media can be a fun way to stay connected but using it a lot can make teens feel stressed, sad, or anxious. Too much screentime can affect your mood and mental health:

Health Effects

    Body Image

    Confidence

    Seeing perfect pictures or highlights of people’s lives can make you compare yourself to others which can affect self-esteem.

    Physical

    Energy

    Too much screentime can make your body tired (especially your eyes).

    Sleep

    Being on screens and screentime during the evening can reduce sleep.

    Wellbeing

    Too much screentime can cause headaches.

    Mental

    Mood

    Seeing perfect pictures or highlights of other people’s lives can cause feelings of anxiety or depression.

    Cyberbullying

    Bullying that takes place online and in social media can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, or depression. Learn more on the Bullying page.

    Doomscrolling

    Doomscrolling – or doomsurfing – is when someone compulsively and excessively reads negative news online. It can cause unnecessary stress, sadness, and sleep loss.

    Screen Addiction

    Screen addiction is not classified as a “true” addiction, but games and apps are increasingly being designed to mimic gambling and encourage spending and prolonged use. Screen users have reported feelings and symptoms that are similar to drug addictions like: the urge to check notifications, discomfort when offline, and dopamine responses to games and media.

    Substance Use

    Increased risk

    Drug and tobacco companies use targeted social media ads to market their products to youth. Learn more on the substance use page.

    Misinformation

    In the age of AI, it’s getting harder to tell when something is real or fake. Can you tell which of these two photos is real and which was generated by AI?

    This one is fake! Did you notice the weird texture and mismatched reflection?

    To guard yourself against targeted misinformation and ads you can ask the following questions:

    Who’s behind the story?

    Who presented the information to you? Do they have a reason for telling you the information (Are they getting paid)?

    What’s the evidence?

    What suggests that the story is true? Is there proof? Could the evidence have been manipulated to prove a point?

    What do other sources say?

    Are there other sources sharing the same information, especially official sources? Are there differences in how the information is presented depending on the source?

    The above image is from Brittanica Education’s Real or AI Quiz. Try more Real or Fake challenges every month at BBC’s Monthly AI or Real Quiz.

    When It’s Time to Take a Break

    It’s time to take a break from media or screens if you’re noticing any of the following:

    Interrupted routines

    Social media use or screentime is starting to disrupt routines like exercise, academics hygiene, sleep, or participation in hobbies – or you’re starting to prefer online activity to in person interaction.

    Mood

    You feel sad or anxious after being online, or have a hard time using social media without becoming anxious or sad.

    Social comparison

    Using social media makes you feel “less than” or includes frequent comparisons of yourself or your body to others – or to perfection.

    Compulsive checking

    When you can’t help checking your notifications – even when you know you should be doing something else (like sleeping).

    What You Can Do

    Here’s what you can do to build healthy online habits:

    Set screentime limits

    Set an overall limit for the day in advance – how much of your time do you want to spend online?

    Take breaks

    Give yourself small breaks every half hour or so – remember by setting a timer.

    Turn off notifications

    Fewer popups = more peace. Turn off notifications – you won’t forget to check them.

    Be mindful

    Choose who you follow carefully. Ask yourself, is this helping me or hurting me?

    Talk to a trusted adult

    Parents or trusted adults can help you make a safe, healthy plan for your media use.

    Need immediate help?

    Crisis Connections

    The Lifeline 988

    HearMeWA