Are the Kids All Right? Social Media’s Impact on Teen Mental Health - Frankly Speaking Ep 470
Mon Feb 02 2026
Credits: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
CME/CE Information and Claim Credit: https://www.pri-med.com/online-education/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-470
Overview: Social media use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents, raising concern about its role in rising rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidality. Although prior evidence has been mixed, emerging studies offer new insights on the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health. Join us as we review current literature and discuss potential strategies to mitigate negative impacts and improve outcomes.
Episode resource links:
Calvert E, Cipriani M, Dwyer B, et al. Social Media Detox and Youth Mental Health. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(11):e2545245. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45245
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2840489
Clayborne ZM, Capaldi CA, Mehra VM. Associations between digital media use behaviours, screen time and positive mental health in youth: results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):2303. Published 2025 Jul 3. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22874-2
Grøntved A, Singhammer J, Froberg K, et al. A prospective study of screen time in adolescence and depression symptoms in young adulthood. Prev Med. 2015;81:108-113. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.08.009
Nagata JM, Memon Z, Talebloo J, et al. Prevalence and Patterns of Social Media Use in Early Adolescents. Acad Pediatr. 2025;25(4):102784. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2025.102784
Oberle E, Ji XR, Kerai S, Guhn M, Schonert-Reichl KA, Gadermann AM. Screen time and extracurricular activities as risk and protective factors for mental health in adolescence: A population-level study. Prev Med. 2020;141:106291. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106291
Pieh C, Humer E, Hoenigl A, et al. Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med. 2025;23(1):107. Published 2025 Feb 21. doi:10.1186/s12916-025-03944-z
Riehm KE, Feder KA, Tormohlen KN, et al. Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(12):1266–1273. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325
Varona MN, Muela A, Machimbarrena JM. Problematic use or addiction? A scoping review on conceptual and operational definitions of negative social networking sites use in adolescents. Addict Behav. 2022;134:107400. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107400
Woolf SH. The Youth Mental Health Crisis in the United States: Epidemiology, Contributors, and Potential Solutions. Pediatrics. 2025;156(5):e2025070849. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-070849
Xiang AH, Martinez MP, Chow T, et al. Depression and Anxiety Among US Children and Young Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(10):e2436906. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.36906
BBC: Australia has banned social media for kids under 16. How will it work? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp9d3ddqyo
Guest: Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C
Music Credit: Matthew Bugos
Thoughts? Suggestions? Email us at FranklySpeaking@pri-med.com
The views expressed in this podcast are those of Dr. Domino and his guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pri-Med.
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Credits: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ CME/CE Information and Claim Credit: https://www.pri-med.com/online-education/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-470 Overview: Social media use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents, raising concern about its role in rising rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidality. Although prior evidence has been mixed, emerging studies offer new insights on the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health. Join us as we review current literature and discuss potential strategies to mitigate negative impacts and improve outcomes. Episode resource links: Calvert E, Cipriani M, Dwyer B, et al. Social Media Detox and Youth Mental Health. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(11):e2545245. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45245 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2840489 Clayborne ZM, Capaldi CA, Mehra VM. Associations between digital media use behaviours, screen time and positive mental health in youth: results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):2303. Published 2025 Jul 3. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22874-2 Grøntved A, Singhammer J, Froberg K, et al. A prospective study of screen time in adolescence and depression symptoms in young adulthood. Prev Med. 2015;81:108-113. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.08.009 Nagata JM, Memon Z, Talebloo J, et al. Prevalence and Patterns of Social Media Use in Early Adolescents. Acad Pediatr. 2025;25(4):102784. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2025.102784 Oberle E, Ji XR, Kerai S, Guhn M, Schonert-Reichl KA, Gadermann AM. Screen time and extracurricular activities as risk and protective factors for mental health in adolescence: A population-level study. Prev Med. 2020;141:106291. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106291 Pieh C, Humer E, Hoenigl A, et al. Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med. 2025;23(1):107. Published 2025 Feb 21. doi:10.1186/s12916-025-03944-z Riehm KE, Feder KA, Tormohlen KN, et al. Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(12):1266–1273. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325 Varona MN, Muela A, Machimbarrena JM. Problematic use or addiction? A scoping review on conceptual and operational definitions of negative social networking sites use in adolescents. Addict Behav. 2022;134:107400. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107400 Woolf SH. The Youth Mental Health Crisis in the United States: Epidemiology, Contributors, and Potential Solutions. Pediatrics. 2025;156(5):e2025070849. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-070849 Xiang AH, Martinez MP, Chow T, et al. Depression and Anxiety Among US Children and Young Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(10):e2436906. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.36906 BBC: Australia has banned social media for kids under 16. How will it work? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp9d3ddqyo Guest: Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C Music Credit: Matthew Bugos Thoughts? Suggestions? Email us at FranklySpeaking@pri-med.com The views expressed in this podcast are those of Dr. Domino and his guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pri-Med.