How to Help a Friend Online

It can be hard (or nearly impossible) for some of us to imagine not having our smartphone in our hands or within reach at all times. We rely on our phones for a multitude of things: staying in touch with loved ones, storing memories like photos and videos, online shopping and, of course, social media.

New online communities and apps are available daily, and at times it can feel hard to keep up with what everyone else is doing or posting. The latest data from Pew Research shows that 72% of Americans use some form of social media. This is especially true for teens and young adults. In fact, a recent survey found that 45% of teens are online almost constantly and 97% use a social media platform, like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat.

Social media allows us to connect to people we might otherwise not interact with, and it can be a great tool for sharing ideas, cultures and information. But for all the good it does, it is not without harm. Social media can expose teens to content that may negatively affect their mental health – things like cyberbullying, unrealistic views of others’ lives, rumor spreading and peer pressure. According to the teen Mental Health First Aid curriculum, some studies have even suggested that social media use can lead to increased risk of depression, anxiety and sleep deprivation in some teens.