According to a new American study, adolescents are not equal when it comes to the use of social networks. An extroverted personality could protect them from depressive symptoms, at least on certain platforms.
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According to recent estimates, social networks punctuate the lives of 79 to 95% of American adolescents who have adopted at least one social media platform. Furthermore, the Pew Research Center (an American research center) indicates that this use is frequent, with around 35% of them reporting using at least one social media platform. almost constantly “. Among the most used platforms are YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and X (the new name for Twitter).
YouTube associated with depressive symptoms
Overall, studies on the topic suggest a significant relationship between greater social media use and higher levels of depressive symptoms among young people. This effect would be especially true for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Amy Gentzler, professor of psychology at WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences (United States), sought to know how each individual can be impacted in their own way. “ Researchers often try to find direct associations between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms. This is sometimes true, but it is not the same association for everyone. Some people may be more likely to experience negative feelings than positive ones when using social media “, she said in a press release.
His study published in the Journal of Adolescence included 237 boys and girls ages 14 to 16, most from West Virginia. It examined the association between social media use (total and for specific platforms) and depressive symptoms, taking into account factors such as participants’ gender, self-esteem and personality. According to the results, YouTube was consistently associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, independent of these factors.
The impact of using other platforms would depend more on the personality of the adolescent. Thus, we learn that the use of TikTok is linked to higher depressive symptoms, particularly among adolescents prone to negative thinking. While Instagram may not affect extroverted adolescents, its use may increase depressive symptoms in those with low or average extraversion. “ This may be because extroverted teens are likely to have more friends who will like and interact with their posts, making their experience on Instagram more rewarding. Additionally, extroverted people tend to have a more positive outlook and may interpret negativity on social media in a more positive way. », Specifies the press release.
Researchers say it’s important for teens to think about how they feel while browsing these apps. “ When I scroll through the pages, what do I think of? Do I feel better or worse after scrolling TikTok for 30 minutes? » These metacognition questions can shed light on the mental health of adolescents (and adults) who often use social networks.
