Best Family Law Attorneys in Killeen, TX

How Does Instagram Harm Teen Mental Health? A Culture of Comparison Instagram encourages users to show off the very best they have to offer, even if it’s fake. Teens often compare the perfect images they see on the screen with their reality. Sadly, they often feel they don’t measure up. It’s no wonder that this culture of comparison is linked to increases in depressive symptoms, social anxiety, body image concerns, and decreased self-esteem. Designed for Addiction Instagram’s goal is to keep users engaged as much as possible. The longer the user is on the platform, the more ads they will view. More ads viewed means more money for the company. Additionally, researchers note that social media activates the reward center of the brain. Even when teens want to stop scrolling, many feel like they can’t because their brains are literally addicted to social media. The Algorithm Effect Instagram feeds are governed by algorithms that rank the content it thinks users will engage with. If a user engages with a topic frequently, Instagram will fill their feed with content and ads related to that topic. This ranking system can cause problems when the content is harmful. For example, it can start out as something harmless, like healthy eating, and over time spiral into posts related to eating disorders. If your teen is suffering from severe mental health disorders such as depression, suicidal ideation, or eating disorders caused by social media, we can help you get justice.