Social media is everywhere, and you should feel confident in using it! However, it is important that you know how to keep yourself safe.

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While it is completely normal to have a social media account where you interact with family and friends, you should know about the dangers that lurk on the internet, and how you can stay away from things that have negative influences.

Several studies we looked at found significant impacts of social media on adolescents. Studies indicated that teens engage in significantly higher rates of screen use than any other age group, making them more susceptible to body image pressures, cyber-comparison, algorithmic reinforcement of harmful content, and sleep disturbance. Additionally, research highlights how social media contributes to distorted body ideals and increased risk of eating disorders, particularly among girls and LGBTQ+ adolescents who already face identity-based vulnerabilities. Other work showed that algorithmic environments can amplify trauma, gender dysphoria, and personal insecurities by normalizing suffering as “aesthetic” or aspirational.

If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, make sure you block and report the account that it comes from, and confide in a trusted adult. It is important to know that nothing on social media can physically harm you, and you have the power to ignore.

Nearly half of teens say social media harms their sleep.
About 45% of U.S. teens report that social media hurts the amount of sleep they get, showing how scrolling late at night can affect rest and overall well-being.

Almost half of teens feel worse about their body image because of social media.
Around 46% of adolescents ages 13–17 say social media makes them feel worse about their body, highlighting the link between online content and body dissatisfaction.

Spending a lot of time online can double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms.
Teens who use social media more than 3 hours a day face about twice the risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with those who
use it less.

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