Examples: Social Media & Mental Health in the Media
Example 1 : Documentary Video Source: Al Jazeera / Fault Lines, YouTube (2022)
Search YouTube for: "Why social media is toxic for teen mental health | Fault Lines"
In 2021 a Facebook whistleblower revealed internal documents showing the company knew Instagram was harmful to teen girls' mental health. This documentary breaks down what those documents revealed and why it matters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8s_lxo7Q6g
Example 2: Real Cyberbullying Case Source: Yahoo News / FBI
14-year-old Adriana Kuch of Bayville, NJ was physically attacked at school. The attack was recorded and uploaded to TikTok, where users left cruel comments. Her family believes the cyberbullying that followed drove her to take her own life days later. This case shows how social media can turn a single incident into ongoing, public harassment.
Example 3: Meta/Instagram Lawsuits Source: PBS NewsHour / Washington Post (2024)
Massachusetts sued Meta in 2024 alleging it designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to young users. Internal Meta research cited in the case found 13.5% of teen girls said Instagram made thoughts of suicide worse, and 17% said it made eating disorders worse.
Example 4: Global Cyberbullying Data Source: World Health Organization Europe (2024)
A WHO Europe study of over 279,000 young people across 44 countries found that 1 in 6 school-aged children has experienced cyberbullying, an increase from previous years. WHO's Regional Director stated that cyberbullying "can devastate the lives of young people and their families" and called it both a health and human rights issue.
Example 5: FX Documentary Series "Social Studies" (2024) Source: CBC Radio / LA School Report
Social Studies is a 2024 five-part FX documentary series about the impact of social media on teens, told entirely from their own perspective. Teens in the series describe the never-ending pressure to chase likes and stay constantly engaged with apps, a cycle they say contributes to addiction and mental health struggles.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/docuseries-social-studies-teens-social-media-1.7405504
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