Nearly half of American teens now say social media is bad for their peers’ mental health, up sharply from 32% in 2022. Even more—45%—admit they spend too much time on it, and nearly the same share say they’ve tried cutting back.
Girls, in particular, seem to be hit the hardest: they report feeling stressed, having trouble sleeping, and lacking confidence. As expected, parents are even more worried. But it’s not all doomscrolling: 74% of teens say social platforms help them feel more connected, and 63% say they’re creative spaces. So, is social media the villain—or just a mirror?
