The document discusses social media usage among teenagers and young adults. It notes that while social media allows for connection, it can also be addictive and negatively impact mental health if used excessively. Sources indicate that moderate usage has no adverse effects, but excessive usage over 6 hours per week is linked to issues like anxiety and depression. The document advocates for moderation and balance with real-world social interaction, noting both benefits and risks of social media use.

1. How much is
too much?
Social media in moderation.
By Kaylee Pietroski

2. Today, people are
in their own
media bubbles. [1]
Media rich homes
are normal, and
everyone is
huddled in a
“cyber cocoon”.[1]

3. The past few years have seen a dramatic increase
in the use of social media platforms, specifically
Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. [2]

4. People aged 18-34
spend on average
6 hours and 6 minutes
per week on social
media [4]
70% of teenagers
aged 12-17 spend
time on social media in
a typical day [3]

5. “In moderation, social media can be a great
way for teens to connect to others, to relate
to their peers and to express themselves” [3]
- Dr. Karrie Lager

6. “However, excessive internet and social media use
can have serious negative consequences.”[3]
- Dr. Karrie Lager

7. But in doing so, they
engage in strenuous
impression management.
They search for validation
and seek the approval of
others, thus filtering their
own reality. [2]
Active social media users
continuously participate
in posting pictures,
videos, status updates,
comments,
or posts. [2]

8. We are hard-wired
with a desire to feel
relevant and
important in the
minds of others.
Social media
promises us that, but
also promotes being
self-absorbed.
[5]
Photo by David Phan, Flickr

9. Social media is becoming
an addiction. Too often,
we experience a
biological reward when
exposing information
about ourselves.
This reward can be
thought of as a quick-hit,
and is the reason that
we cannot stop
updating, liking, and
hashtagging.
[3]

10. “I’ve encountered many young children as
well as teenagers and adults who have
become obsessed with social media, using
it as a tool to guide their self-esteem and
self-worth.”
However, these are “false measures, and
when reality sets in, anxiety, depression
and other psychiatric issues begin to
emerge.”
- Dr. Charles Sophy [3]
Photo by aaayyymm eeelectriik, Flickr

11. Heavy social media usage also has a
negative impact on physical health.
Social media users often remain
sedentary; cooped up in their rooms,
slouched over in a chair, with their faces
glued to their screens. They often miss
out on regular exercise and a proper diet.
[2]

12. However, researchers Andrew Przybylski of Oxford University, and
Netta Weinstein of Cardiff University, determined that there is a
“just right” amount of screen time. [6]
The moderate use of screens is not harmful, and
could even be advantageous. [6]

13. It is unclear if social media is a contributing
factor to poor mental health among
adolescents because of cyberbullying and
unrealistic body images [7]
or rather if it is a coping mechanism for those
who suffer from poor mental health and feel
alone in the world. [7]

14. Social media is not necessarily bad for us,
however, it is important that everyone
knows how to use it safely. [7]
There are risks to privacy with sharing online, including the
susceptibility of people to identity theft, and having personal
images used for unintended purposes. [8]

15. Social media helps many people stay informed about what is
happening in the real world. From following the news, to sharing
political opinions, using social media platforms is one of the best
ways to remain up-to-date. [9]

16. Social media also is a helpful
tool to reach out to young
people, in order to inspire
change in the world.
It is an outlet that allows
teens to feel that they are a
part of something even
when they may actually feel
isolated from society.
[9]
Photo by Francisco Osorio, Flickr

17. One in five teens has listed
social media as a reason
they feel more confident.
52% of teens have said
social media improved their
relationships with their
friends.
“Teens said that they feel
that social media has a
more positive than
negative impact on their
social and emotional lives”
– Shira Lee Katz
[10]

18. Almost six out of ten teens has said
they have met a new friend online, and
20% of those teens followed up with
meeting their new friend in person. [11]
Today, many physical friendships
and relationships begin online. [11]

19. When we consider the benefits, it is seemingly more
advantageous to be online rather than off. However, it
is crucial that we moderate our usage, and engage in
safe online behaviour.
It is vital to “trust but verify” and maintain a healthy
level of caution in our online interactions, as well as
those in the real world. [11]

20. The truth is, social media is very much anti-social.
Users should ensure they maintain a real-world social life
in addition to the one they maintain online. [2]

21. If you notice these signs, maybe it’s time to
re-evaluate your social media usage
You find out
WAY too much
about your
social media
“friends”
[12]
You care more
about what
your friends
are doing than
your own life
[12]
You update the
world on
EVERYTHING.
From daily
habits to chores
[12]
You feel naked
or anxious
without your
smartphone
[12]

22. References
All photos used have Creative Commons (CC0) licensing, and thus do not require attribution, unless
otherwise noted on the photo.
1. Matrix, Sidneyeve. (2017). Module 01 Lecture 02 Media Use Research Part 1 of 2. Retrieved from
https://onq.queensu.ca/d2l/le/content/71613/Home
2. Whitely, R. (2016, September 14). Here’s Why Social Media Harms Your Teen’s Mental Health. The
Huffington Post, Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/robertwhitley/social-media-mental-
health_b_11893462.html
3. Stein, E. (2014, May 7). Is Social Media Dependence a Mental Health Issue? The Huffington Post,
Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/07/social-media-mental-
health_n_5268108.html
4. Krashinsky Robertson, S. (2014, December 4). Four ways Canadians are consuming media
differently. The Globe and Mail, Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-
business/industry-news/marketing/four-ways-canadians-are-consuming-media-
differently/article21949630/
5. Forrester, N. (2011, December 12). Social Media: An Epidemic of Narcissism. The Huffington Post,
Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nicole-forrester/social-media--narcissism-
_b_1128168.html
6. Salmon, L. (2017, February 20). Why you don’t have to unplug your children from digital world.
Belfast Telegraph, Retrieved from http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/why-you-dont-
have-to-unplug-your-children-from-digital-world-35464049.html

23. 7. Payne, E. (2015, August 8). Teens’ poor mental health linked to social media use. The Ottawa
Citizen, Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.queensu.ca/docview/1702249271?accountid=6180
8. Schein, J. (2017, February 20). How Much Is Too Much: Are Parents Oversharing Their Children On
Social Media? WUFT, Retrieved from https://www.wuft.org/news/2017/02/20/how-much-is-too-
much-are-parents-oversharing-their-children-on-social-media/
9. Agrawal, A. (2016, March 18). It’s Not All Bad: The Social Good of Social Media. Forbes, Retrieved
from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajagrawal/2016/03/18/its-not-all-bad-the-social-good-of-
social-media/#b44934e756fb
10.Wallace, K. (2014, October 7). The upside of selfies: Social media isn’t all bad for kids. CNN,
Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/21/living/social-media-positives-teens-parents/
11.Wallace, K. (2016, February 4). Nicole Lovell’s killing raises questions of how to keep kids safe on
social media. CNN, Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/04/health/internet-safety-kids-
social-media-parents/
12.Deegan, K. (2014, December 17). Can You Use Social Media Too Much? Signs to Watch Out for. The
Huffington Post, Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-deegan/can-you-use-social-
media-_b_6336366.html
References