Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU.

The U.S. Surgeon General released a social media and youth mental health study in his 2023 advisory. The advisory looked at different studies and aspects of social media and the effects they had on adolescents. 

Many are concerned about the use of social media for children, as adolescent years are critical for brain and behavioral development. About 95 percent of children ages 13 to 17 reported using a social media platform. Furthermore, about 40 percent of children ages 8 to 12 reported using social media platforms despite most platforms requiring a minimum age of 13. Another study that looked at U.S. adolescents from ages 12 to 15 found that those who spent more than three hours a day on social media were at twice the risk of having poor mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression.  

Read More: Social media could be harmful to young children

Other major concerns involve what content is available, becoming victim to predatory advances, and cyberbullying. Two-thirds of adolescents have experienced hate-based content with adolescent minorities having a higher chance of experiencing cyber-bullying.  Furthermore, 6 out of 10 adolescent girls say they’ve been made uncomfortable after being contacted by a stranger.  

Read More: How social media is affecting your mental health

This Friday on Noon Edition, we will talk with guests about the effects social media has on children.  

You can follow us on Twitter at @NoonEdition or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.

Guests 

Bennett Bertenthal - James H. Rudy Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at IU 

Nichole Alspaugh Williams - Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Senior Lecturer at IU