Young individuals today are navigating a world heavily influenced by social media, where technology significantly shapes their everyday lives. This surge in social media usage has sparked concerns among parents and society regarding the social and psychological health of young people. Recently, a research group has utilized authentic social media data to reveal that youths might be more responsive to social media feedback, such as likes, compared to adults, with direct effects on their engagement and emotional well-being.
Young individuals today are immersed in a technology-driven world dominated by social media, which heavily influences their experiences. The swift increase in social media usage has led to worries among parents and society about the social and mental health of young people. For the first time, a research team from the University of Amsterdam harnessed real social media data to uncover that young people could be more affected by social media reactions (likes) than adults, impacting both their engagement levels and emotional states. Their findings were published on 23 October in the journal Science Advances.
One prevailing concern about social media is that it may cause anxiety in young individuals, pushing them to use these applications more frequently than preferable in pursuit of gathering more likes. According to team member Wouter van den Bos: ‘Adolescence is a developmental stage characterized by heightened sensitivity to both reward and rejection. These factors are closely linked to increased impulsive behavior and depressive symptoms.’
A Vital Stage in Our Lives
The researchers employed a comprehensive approach to investigate the issue. First, they analyzed a vast dataset of real Instagram posts, applying a computational model to assess sensitivity to likes. The second step involved an experimental study that replicated social media’s features to monitor mood variations. Lastly, an exploratory neuroimaging study indicated a connection between sensitivity to social media feedback and individual differences in amygdala size. Together, these three studies provided supporting evidence that young people may indeed be more reactive to social media feedback than adults.
During adolescence, sensitivity to peer acceptance and rejection is heightened, marking this period as crucial in our lives. Interestingly, this increased sensitivity leads to a paradox: while gaining likes can foster feelings of connection and boost mood among young people, this positive effect may also propel them toward excessive app usage. Conversely, due to this sensitivity, young individuals might disengage from the platforms more quickly than adults if they do not receive likes, potentially resulting in a worsening mood.
Addressing Negative Effects
The results suggest that the current design of social media may have both beneficial and detrimental effects on young people, indicating a need for interventions to mitigate the negative consequences.
The researchers recommend that social media platforms should first alter their incentive structures to prioritize meaningful engagement over likes. Additionally, they argue for a shift in focus from merely enhancing digital literacy to fostering effective emotional regulation skills in online spaces, as today’s youth likely possess more knowledge on this topic than any previous generation.
Concerns Regarding Mental Wellness
Study lead author Ana da Silva Pinho stated: ‘While social media plays a vital role in promoting certain aspects of youth development, such as shaping identity and fostering social connections, our research indicates it also poses challenges, especially concerning young people’s moods. With rising concerns about how social media affects mental health, understanding how young people interact with and react to social media is essential, especially in light of their developmental differences.’
