The Scroll Toll

Netflix’s docudrama The Social Dilemma delves into the profound social and cultural impacts of social media. The film portrays the harms of technology through the story of Isla, a teenage girl whose growing social media use takes a toll on her mental health. The film urges viewers – particularly youth – to rethink their social media habits, question what is on their feeds, and safeguard their mental well-being.

Kira E. Riehm and colleagues analyzed data from a cohort of American youth to explore the association between social media use and mental health issues. Using information from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, researchers evaluated data from 6,595 youth aged 12-17. The research team evaluated two categories of mental health symptoms: internalizing and externalizing problems. Internalizing problems were associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms while externalizing problems were associated with attention problems and bullying others.

Youth who spent more time on social media were at increased risk of internalizing problems, including anxiety and attention difficulties, with higher levels of social media time associated with greater problems. Externalizing problems, such as behavioral impulsivity, did not demonstrate a consistent correlation with time spent on social media.

The research supports The Social Dilemma’s claim that youth spending excess time on social media may be at increased risk for mental health problems, especially for symptoms of depression and anxiety. The need to reflect on and alter social media habits is important for youth, as it plays a large role in their daily lives. Like the filmmakers of the docudrama, the researchers suggest that adolescents should limit their daily social media usage. They also call for social media companies to redesign their platforms, increasing protections for younger users.