Impact of Social Media On Adolescent Behavioral Health in California
Impact of Social Media On Adolescent Behavioral Health in California
Impact of Social Media On Adolescent Behavioral Health in California
eenagers throughout the country regularly use the internet, cell phones, and video games to gather information and communicate
with each other. This ability to interact with others is the unique feature of social media which provides powerful new ways for
teens to create and navigate their social environments.
Teens use of social media occurs simultaneously with their developing identity, emerging sexuality, physical development, and moral
consciousness. In this brief, we examine how social media impacts the behavioral health of Californias adolescents.
EXAMPLE
Text Messaging
Facebook, MySpace
YouTube.com
Online gaming
SecondLife.com
Source: (Lenhart, 2010) except for Online video sites (Nielsen, 2009) & Online gaming (McAfee, 2010)
Most teens use online networks to extend the friendships they already have from other areas of their life, such as school,
religious organizations, sports and other local activities (Ito, 2008). Social networking sites provide a way for teens to experience
connectedness and opportunities to learn from each other (Ito, 2008).
Social media can provide a supportive environment to explore romance, friendship, and social status, while also providing teens
an opportunity to share and discuss their taste in music, knowledge of television and movies, online videos/games, and other
aspects of teen culture (Ito, 2008).
Teens from lower income families (those earning less than $30,000 annually) are more likely to use online social
networks (80%) than teens from wealthier households (70%) (Lenhart, 2010).
Social networking sites can allow teens to find support online that they may lack in traditional relationships, especially for teens
who are often marginalized, such as lesbian, gay, bi and transgendered (LGBT) teens, those who are living with an illness or
disability, or those who may feel physically unattractive or socially reticent (McKenna & Bargh, 2000).
Teens look to social networks as a key source of information and advice in a critical developmental
period with 57% of teen social networkers saying they look to their online social network for advice
(Nielsen, 2009).
Teens also use online searches to gain answers to many of their health concerns with 31% of online
teens getting health, dieting, or physical fitness information from the internet. Seventeen percent of
teens who use the internet report they use it to gather information about health topics that are hard
to discuss with others, such as drug use and sexual health (Lenhart, 2010).
555 12th Street, 10th Floor Oakland, CA 94607 PH (510) 285-5712 FAX (510) 285-5597 www.californiateenhealth.org
Cell phones and features, such as texting, are very popular with teens and parents. Over 90% of parents and teens backed
the assertion that they like cell phones because they can keep in touch no matter where I am (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell &
Purcell, 2010). Teens have found that they gained more independence and freedom through owning a cell phone that allows
them to communicate with their parents and that they often use voice calling to seek out social support when needed to discuss
personal matters (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell & Purcell, 2010).
% OF TEENS (N=760-763)
54
53
50
Organize or invite people to an event using a social networking site like Facebook or MySpace
45
34
26
Cyberbullying
Use of social media also creates an opportunity for emotional
distress from receiving threatening, harassing, or humiliating
communication from another teen, called cyberbullying.
August 2011
2
Texting/Sexting
Privacy
Most studies show that teens do care about privacy. When teens
are concerned about risks, they will engage in privacy protecting
behaviors, such as adjusting their profiles to private from
public access, refusing to provide identifying information or
false information, and avoiding certain websites (Youn, 2009).
Digital Divide
National
Some innovative campaigns by non-profit and government
groups use social networking websites to create a network of
teens who can spread the word to their peers about risky
behaviors and positive choices, while others create websites
that allow teens to upload their own photos or videos to create
their own positive message ads (Donahue, 2008).
While there are few social media programs that have been
evaluated, there are many examples of public health programs
that have developed new applications to improve adolescent
health.
California
HOOKUP is the first statewide text-messaging service of its kind
that provides basic facts about reproductive health and
relationships, as well as referrals to youth-oriented clinical
medical services throughout California. Youth text HOOKUP
to a short phone number and receive weekly health messages
developed by health educators based on issues identified by
California youth. Since its launch in 2009, it has over 3,044
subscribers and approximately 30% requesting clinic referral
information.
Recommendations
Conclusion
Social media forms have altered how youth socialize and learn,
and raise a new set of issues for educators, parents, researchers
and policymakers to consider. Adults can help teens think about
online presence in moral and ethical ways-specifically to help
teens in understanding the consequences for themselves and
others of participation in the socially networked world. A multipronged approach that utilizes multiple social media platforms, as
well as in-person contact, has the potential to reach teens with
accurate health information, resources, and support.
For Community:
Greater resources need to be allocated to schools, libraries and
community organizations to assist them in adopting risk management strategies and to provide education about online safety issues.
Funder
Funding from the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health
Program, Center for Family Health, California Department of
Public Health, supported by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration,
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act).
Suggested Citation
Kowalski, R.N. (2010). Alexis Pilkington Facebook Horror: Cyber bullies harass even after
suicide. Retrieved on June 3, 2011 from website:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/alexis-pilkington-faceboo_n_512482.html
Lenhart A. (2007). Cyberbullying. Retrieved on June 3, 2011 from Pew Internet and American
Life Project website; http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/Cyberbullying.aspx.
References
Lenhart A., Kahne J., Middaugh E., Macgill, A., Evans, C. & Vitak, J. (2008). Teens, video games
and civics. Retrieved on June 3, 2011 from Pew Internet and American Life Project website:
http://pewinternet.org/PPF/r/263/report_display.aspx
Arres, A.M. (2008). In Search of Digital Equity: Assessing the geography of the digital divide in
California. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/11233703/In-Searchof-Digital-Equity.
Lenhart, A., Ling, R., Campbell, S., & Purcell, K. (2010). Teens & mobile phones. Retrieved May
30, 2011 from Pew Internet & American Life Project website:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx
Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Law School, Internet Safety Technical Task
Force. (2008). Enhancing Safety and Online Technologies: Final Report of the Internet Safety
Task Force to the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking for the State Attorneys
General of the United States. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from website:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/sites/cyber.law.harvard.edu/files/ISTTF_Final_Report.pdf
Lenhart A, Purcell K, Smith A., & Zickuhr K. (2010). Social media & mobile internet use among
teens and young adults. Retrieved May 30, 2011 from Pew Internet & American Life Project
website: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx
Liz Claiborne, Inc. (2008). Tween and Teen Dating Violence and Abuse Study. Retrieved on
May 30, 2011 from website:
http://loveisnotabuse.com/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=45693&folderId=72612&nam
e=DLFE-203.pdf
Blumenfeld, W.J. and Cooper, R.M. (2010). LGBT and Allied Youth Responses to Cyberbullying:
Policy Implications. The International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, 3(1), 114-133. Retrieved
on June 3, 2011 from http://freireproject.org/images/2321/IJCPv3_7.pdf
McAfee, Inc. (2010). The secret life of online teens. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from website:
http://us.mcafee.com/en-us/local/docs/lives_of_teens.pdf
Boyar, R., Levine, D., & Zensius, N. (2011). Tech SexUSA: Youth Sexuality and Reproductive
Health in the Digital Age. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from ISIS website:
http://www.isis-inc.org/ISISpaper_techsx_usa.pdf
McKenna, K.Y.A. & Bargh, J.A. (2000). Plan 9 from cyberspace: The implications of the Internet
for personality and social psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4, 57-75.
California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). (2005). Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from website:
http://www.chis.ucla.edu
Mitchell, K. J., Ybarra, M. & Finkelhor, D. (2007). The Relative Importance of Online
Victimization in Understanding Depression, Delinquency, and Substance Use. Child
Maltreatment, 12(4), 314324.
California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). (2001). Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from website:
http://www.chis.ucla.edu
Sex and Tech: Results of a Survey of Teens and Young Adults. Washington, DC: Retrieved from
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy website:
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech/pdf/sextech_summary.pdf
Clifford, S. (2009, February 7). Straight talk on digital harassment for teenagers. The New
York Times. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/technology/27iht-adco.1.19705877.html
The Nielsen Company. (2009). How Teens Use Media: A Nielsen report on the myths and
realities of teen media trends. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from website:
http://www.nielsen.com/content/corporate/us/en/search.html?q=How+Teens+Use+Media
Collins, R.L., Martino, S.C., & Shaw, R. (2011). Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual
Health: Evidence and Opportunities, Working Paper WR-761. Retrieved on June 3, 2011 from
U. S. Department of Health and Human services website:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/11/adolescentsexualactivity/newmedialitrev/index.pdf
Noll, J., Schenk, C.E., Barnes, J.E., & Putnam, F.W. (2009). Childhood abuse, avatar choices,
and other risk factors associated with internet-initiated victimization of adolescent girls.
Pediatrics, 123(6), 1078-83.
Palfrey, J., Gasser, U., & boyd, d. (2010). Response to FCC Notice of Inquiry 09-94
Empowering Parents and Protecting Children in an Evolving Media Landscape. Retrieved
on May 30, 2011 from website:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/publications/2010/Re_Empowering_Parents_Protecting_Children
Commonsense Media. (2010). Parent tip sheet: Commonsense on Text Messaging. Retrieved
on May 30, 2011 from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/responsibletext-messaging-tips
Purcell, K. (2011). Trends in Teen Communication and Social Media Use. Retrieved May 30,
2011 from Pew Internet & American Life Project website:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2011/Feb/PIP-Girl-Scout-Webinar.aspx
Rideout, V.J., Foehr, U.G., & Roberts, D.F. (2010). Generation M2: Media in the lives of 8-18
year olds. Retrieved on May 15, 2011 from Kaiser Family Foundation website:
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf
Donahue, E.H., Haskins, R. & Nightingale, M. (2008). Using the Media to Promote Adolescent
Well-Being. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from Princeton Brookings Institute website:
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2008/spring_children_haskins/spring_
children_haskins.pdf
Wolak, J. Mitchell, K., Finkelhor D. (2006). Online Victimization of Youth, Five Years Later.
Retrieved on June 3, 2011 from website:
http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC167.pdf
Ybarra, M.L, Espelage, D.L, & Mitchell, K.J. (2007). The co-occurrence of Internet harassment
and unwanted sexual solicitation victimization and
perpetration: Associations with psychosocial indicators. J
Adolesc Health. 41(S6), 3141.
Ito M., Horst, H., Bittani, M., boyd, d., Herr-Stephenson, B., Lange, P.G., . . .Tripp, L. (2008)
Living and Learning With New Media: Summary of Findings From the Digital Youth Project.
Chicago, IL: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Reports on Digital Media and
Learning. Retrieved on May 30, 2011 from MacArthur Foundation website:
h t t p : / / w w w . m a c f o u n d . o r g / a t f / c f / % 7 B B 0 3 8 6 C E 3 - 8 B 2 9 - 4 16 2 - 8 0 9 8 E466FB856794%7D/DML_ETHNOG_WHITEPAPER.PDF
555 12th Street, 10th Floor Oakland, CA 94607 PH (510) 285-5712 FAX (510) 285-5597 www.californiateenhealth.org