MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

More and more teenagers are spending time using social networking sites which may affect their health and well-being. Many studies do not focus on how young people perceive social media impacts on them. They tend to mainly focus on the type of platform use only. Focus groups were conducted with the adolescents to examine their views. The interviews were transcribed and then subjected to thematic analysis. Participants said social media is a double-edged sword. It offers benefits, such as connection, self-expression and emotional support, but also downsides, ultimately jealousy, annoyance, harassment, bullying and no socializing. The conclusion shows how adolescents understand the good and bad use of social media. Having open talks about these experiences can help young people deal with risks stronger and better. Other youth services, such as school based, should promote healthy social media usage. It’s important to study the digital experiences of youth. This will allow for the evaluation of programs and interventions that assist in mental health. This can be useful for parents, teachers, doctors and law-makers.