Health · Mental Health · 2 days ago
Doctors warn of social media’s effects on young people’s mental health
Doctors in India say they are seeing more teenagers and younger children with anxiety, sadness, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating.
They say excessive screen use can contribute to these problems, especially when it cuts into sleep, exercise and time with other people.
Social media can also expose young people to cyberbullying, upsetting material and constant comparisons with others.
A WHO study found that problematic social media use among adolescents in 44 countries and regions rose from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022.
The study defined problematic use by signs such as being unable to control use, neglecting other activities and facing harm in daily life.
Doctors stress that screen use is not always the main cause, and that the key concern is whether a young person can control it.
The information available does not describe specific next steps.
ET HealthWorld reports that doctors are seeing more young patients with anxiety, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating and emotional fatigue, with excessive screen use sometimes contributing to these concerns.
The article says potential harms include social comparison, exposure to distressing material, cyberbullying and disrupted sleep.
A WHO Regional Office for Europe study found that problematic social media use among adolescents in its survey rose from 7 per cent in 2018 to 11 per cent in 2022.
Girls in the study reported higher levels of problematic social media use than boys, at 13 per cent compared with 9 per cent.
Doctors say warning signs include being unable to control online use, neglecting necessary tasks, feeling low when offline and developing irregular sleep patterns.
The article cautions that social media should not automatically be blamed as the sole cause of a young person's difficulties.
- Who
- Children and adolescents, and the doctors who treat them.
- What
- The article examines the effects and warning signs of problematic social media and screen use among young people.
- When
- Published on October 10, 2026, for World Mental Health Day; the cited study compares 2018 and 2022.
- Where
- India and the 44 countries and regions covered by the WHO study in Europe, central Asia and Canada.
- Why
- To explain potential mental health effects, warning signs and the importance of recognizing problematic use.
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- Problematic social media use among adolescents
- Rose from 7 per cent in 2018 to 11 per cent in 2022 in the cited WHO Regional Office for Europe study.
- Study participants
- 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15.
- Study coverage
- 44 countries and regions in Europe, central Asia and Canada.
- Girls and boys reporting problematic use
- 13 per cent of girls and 9 per cent of boys.
- Article publication
- October 10, 2026.
What people are saying
Constant exposure to curated images of other people’s lives can create feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and FOMO, or fear of missing out.
A clear change is the presence of patients in their teenage years and twenties coming with symptoms of anxiety, sadness, insomnia, concentration problems, and difficulty turning their minds off.
The screen time is usually a contributing factor in such cases, especially in terms of the impact on sleep, physical exercise and interaction with people.
Early warning signs that social media use has become a problematic behaviour are if the person starts avoiding other necessary tasks just to remain online or feel low when they cannot be online.
Sources
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