By Emma Feitshans
In today’s digital age, the landscape of adolescence is painted with pixels and hashtags. Social media platforms have become the modern-day rabbit hole, leading our youth into a wonderland of likes, shares, and filters. As a therapist who works closely with teens, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of this ‘digital wonderland’ on their mental health. Let’s delve into this rabbit hole and explore the complexities of how social media affects the minds and emotions of our youth.
Escapism or Entrapment?
Social media often serves as both a refuge and a labyrinth for young minds. For many, it offers an escape from the pressures of everyday life, providing a virtual sanctuary where they can connect with friends, share experiences, and explore their identities. However, this escape can quickly turn into a trap as unrealistic standards and expectations emerge.
Perfection Paradox/Pressure to Perform
In Wonderland, perfection reigns supreme. Filters smooth out imperfections, curated feeds showcase only the highlights, and every post is carefully crafted to present an idealized version of reality. This culture of perfection breeds comparison and self-doubt, leading teens to measure their worth against unattainable standards. As a therapist, I often see the toll this takes on their mental health. Constantly striving for perfection leaves them feeling inadequate and unworthy, trapped in a cycle of self-criticism, negative core beliefs, anxiety, and depression.
Additionally, in this digital age popularity is currency and validation comes in the form of likes and comments. Teens are under immense pressure to maintain a certain image online, fearing judgment and rejection if they are unable to keep up with societal expectations. The biological drive to be included in community is now felt not only within the classroom, but also in wonderland. This pressure to perform can lead to a distorted sense of self and a reliance on external validation for self-worth and self-esteem. Rather than social media itself, it is these thought patterns and expectations that create distress. As a therapist, my goal is to help teens navigate this digital landscape with resilience and self-awareness.
Insights from AIM Ideas Lab Surveys on Teen Mental Health
Recent surveys conducted by youth in AIM’s Ideas Lab program in Alameda and Santa Clara counties shed light on the specific challenges faced by youth in our communities. These surveys revealed that stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression are among the most common mental health challenges experienced by teens.
Furthermore, the surveys highlighted the role of academic pressure in exacerbating these mental health issues. Many respondents expressed feeling overwhelmed by school-related stressors, with freshmen particularly struggling to adapt to the increased workload.
With these pressures in mind, the quick route towards escapism in the form of social media becomes second nature. However, depending upon the intention behind the usage, these very root wounds of low self-esteem and pressure to perform become reinforced. And the students are not blind to these effects.
In our AIM Idea Labs youth researcher’s findings throughout San Diego County, students overwhelmingly voiced the importance of addressing youth mental health. Despite nearly all respondents agreeing on the importance of mental health, there remains a significant disconnect in discussing it openly. Fear of judgment and societal stigma hinder these conversations, perpetuating the cycle of silence.
Based on the survey findings, the youth themselves made several recommendations to further support youth mental health:
- Implement strategies to reduce academic stressors, such as homework and testing
- Normalize discussions about mental health in schools and communities to reduce stigma
- Offer mental health days and resources for students to seek support anonymously
- Emphasize the importance of self-care and balance in school and personal life
- Increase access to mental health resources and support systems for teens
- Encourage open communication and empathy among peers, teachers, and parents
- Provide education on mental health and self-esteem to empower teens
The challenges faced by today’s youth in navigating the digital wonderland of social media are complex and multifaceted. However, by addressing the underlying issues of perfectionism, pressure to perform, and stigma surrounding mental health, we can create a more supportive environment for teens to thrive. As tech blends more seamlessly into our everyday lives, the ability for youth to parcel out social media’s advantages for community and disadvantages into self-criticism grows that much more paramount.
As therapists, educators, and community members, we can aim to dismantle the barriers that prevent our youth from seeking help and support. By prioritizing their mental health and well-being, we can support them through the wonderland of teenhood with resilience, self-compassion, and understanding.
If you want to learn more about how to normalize these conversations and provide a space of support for youth in your life, check out AIM’s Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings.
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About the Author
Emma is an associate marriage and family therapist specializing in supporting children, teens, adults, and families. With a background in education and therapy, she offers personalized guidance in areas like depression, anxiety, family dynamics, and life transitions. Drawing from CBT, DBT, EMDR, mindfulness, and psychodynamic techniques, she provides comprehensive therapy to empower clients in navigating challenges and fostering resilience.
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Krista Reuther is the Assistant Director of Ohana’s Community Health and Prevention Program. She received her Masters in Public Health and Social Work at UC Berkeley. She comes to this position after 14 years of clinical social work experience at Stanford Children’s Hospital in pediatric oncology, critical care, and bereavement. Her goal is to reduce the incidence of mental illness in children and adolescents in Monterey County.
Dr. Guss is a 35-year veteran educator with a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership. She served as a classroom teacher for 10 years, including two years as a teacher in a bilingual program in South Central Los Angeles. She has also served as a college professor, mentor teacher for new teachers, and a master teacher for teacher candidates completing their student teaching experience. She continues to be a strong advocate for the teaching profession.
Fellowship: Stanford University School of Medicine (1994) CA
Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D. is a consultant, author and psychologist specializing in children and families. He is the supervising psychologist for the Belmont Hill School and has worked in more than seven hundred schools across the United States, as well as in international schools in Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
is 15 years old and a sophomore at Marina High School in Marina, CA. Her academic interests include math, history, and psychology. She joined the AIM Ideas Lab in 2021 because she wanted to be a part of something that could have a great impact on her community. Marwa is interested in youth mental health because she has always been fascinated with the human mind and she wants to support those that are suffering who may feel like their challenges in life aren’t important enough or are too afraid to seek necessary help.
Giovanna Panetta is a 16 year old junior at Carmel High School. She has always been called to STEM subjects, specifically biology. The AIM Ideas Lab instantly attracted her attention as a research opportunity. Gia has always comprehended the importance of mental health. She knows that COVID only exacerbated previously existing problems, and that as a community we can try and find the root of those problems. Mental health is an integral part of life, and can impede a body’s ability to be healthy. She strongly believes that life is worth living, and she wants to help anyone that thinks otherwise.
Dr. Friedman completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of California San Diego (UCSD). She went on to complete her masters and doctorate degrees (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science/Chicago Medical School. Dr. Friedman completed her pre-doctoral internship at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, and her post-doctoral fellowship training at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Her clinical training and experience has been focused primarily on comprehensive assessment and effective treatments for anxiety, mood and related disorders. Dr. Friedman has extensive experience in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for anxiety disorders (e.g. worry, OCD, social anxiety, phobias and PTSD), depression, adjustment disorders/life stress, insomnia and body-focused repetitive behaviors (e.g. Trichotillomania and skin picking). She has received training in evidence-based interventions for a variety of specific problems, including exposure with response prevention (ERP) for treatment of OCD, Prolonged Exposure (PE) for treatment of PTSD, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Moreover, she has specialty training in the treatment of childhood anxiety and related disorders, such as ADHD, selective mutism, separation anxiety, PTSD, depression and specific phobias. In addition, Dr. Friedman has developed an expertise in research on Trichotillomania and body-focused repetitive behaviors, which has led to numerous local and national presentations. Dr. Friedman regularly attends local and national conferences, training seminars and workshops in order to stay informed on the most up to date treatments and apply state of the art science into her clinical practice.
Dr. Piacentini is a board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist and Professor in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. He directs the UCLA Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Clinic and Tourette Association Center of Excellence which provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment (both therapy and medication) for youth with the above problems. He also directs the UCLA Center for Child Anxiety Resilence, Education, and Support (CARES; carescenter.ucla.edu) which provides education and programming to parents, teachers, and clinicians about anxiety prevention and management.
Citlalli Nava is 18 years old and a first year majoring in Psychology at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, CA. She is passionate about understanding how mental health affects how youth think, act, and feel. Citlalli joined the AIM Ideas Lab in 2021 after witnessing the increase in mental health challenges in teenagers and considering the mental health issues they are facing. Citlalli is interested in youth mental health because it is a real problem faced by her generation.
Clinical and community psychologist and health care innovator Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. With more than 146,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as members, APA promotes and disseminates psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve lives – a mission consistent with Evans’ life work.
