Social Media, Mental Health, and Adolescent Social Dynamics with Mitch Prinstein, PhD, ABPP

How has social media changed the way teens socialize and interact - and is it affecting their mental health?

On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry sits down with researcher and Chief of Psychology of the American Psychological Association Mitch Prinstein, PhD, ABPP. Dr. Prinstein describes his research on popularity and likeability in adolescence, and how social media factors into these social dynamics. He also explores how certain aspects of social media, such as social comparison, can yield negative mental health impacts for teens. Finally, Dr. Prinstein takes listeners beneath the surface to discuss his research on the impacts of social media on the brain, explaining how some children might be more susceptible to the negative mental health effects of social media than others, and what parents can do to prevent these effects.

In this episode you will learn:

1. The difference between popularity and likability - and which is linked to better life outcomes.
2. How social media has changed social dynamics and how these changes affect the developing brain.
3. What research is saying about teen social media use and the development of mental health conditions.
4. Conversation prompts to help adults better understand their adolescent’s social media habits and assess if they may be cause for  concern.
5. How the relationship between social media use and sleep affects overall adolescent health and well-being.
6. Which uses of social media can be healthy and beneficial for adolescents.

For more resources and research on this topic visit the Learn and Explore section of the Children and Screens website (https://www.childrenandscreens.org)

--------------

Follow Children and Screens on:

Facebook: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Instagram: @childrenandscreens
LinkedIn: Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
X: @childrenscreens
Bluesky: @childrenandscreens.bsky.social

---------------

Music: 'Life in Silico' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au