Social media, young people and the mental health crisis

What is the impact of social media on mental health, especially kids and young people? Jo and Peter share from their own experiences as parents attempting to navigate how to wisely use and limit social media in their own lives and the lives of their kids.

Being Human 502 is taking a deep dive on the online space and explores the impact it’s having on particularly the minds of young people. Although social media can be a force for good, the way in which our tech competes for our attention is something we all can relate to.

Jo and Peter open up the conversation with the tragic story of teenager Molly Russell and shed light on the dark side of the online world. From self-image and filters to the power of algorithms, they explore the rise of anxiety, depression and loneliness which has been reportedly linked to social media use. What role can both parents and individuals play in navigating these challenges for our kids, friends and ourselves?

And as we look at these issues through the Being Human lens, what does the God Story have to offer us in the face of these challenges? How can we use the apologetic tool of the Being Human lens to help shape a better story for our mental health and online lives? This episode rounds-off with personal tips and habits for healthy and balanced engagement with social media.

Part one (00:00) 
02:17 Welcome back and teeing up the question that Jo and Peter get asked the most – what is the impact of social media on the mental health of our young people? And what do we do about it? 
03:40 The Molly Russell Case: a wake-up call and an opportunity to open up the conversation. 
05:46 Putting today’s conversation in the focal point of the Being Human Lens and asking is there a better story when it comes to our engagement with social media and understanding mental health?  
07:16 Exploring significance and identity in the digital age. What impact does an all-loving, all-knowing God have into a social media swirl that perpetuates self-doubt and insecurity?  

Part two (18:08) 
18:12 From dating apps to algorithms to Ted Lasso - looking at connection and social media’s impact our relationships with one another.  
23:54 ‘I can buy myself flowers’: exploring the cross over between the drive for self-love and experience of loneliness in modern connections.  
27:52 With filters, deep-fake and AI how might we navigate the blurred lines between online and real life? 
38:22 Finding balance: strategies for healthy engagement with social media. Adopting small habits that lead to significant change over time. 
49:45 Finishing up – championing mental health support and community engagement.  

Keen to develop your own habits of healthy social media use? Read 5 Ways to Cut Back on Social Media from PCMag.