Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people’s mental health, a UK snapshot survey suggests.
The poll asked 1,479 people aged 14-24 to rate which of five popular social media platforms had the most negative effect on their users.
They were asked to score each platform on issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying and body image.
Mental health charities urged companies to act to increase users’ safety.
‘Inadequacy and anxiety’
The Royal Society for Public Health, RSPH, report warns that “social media may be fuelling a mental health crisis” in young people.
It can also be used as a tool for good, the report said, and companies should be doing their best to make platforms a safe place to be.
About 90 per cent of young people use social media – more than any other age group – so they are particularly vulnerable to its effects, although it is not clear what these are on current evidence.
The online survey asked participants a series of questions about whether YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter had an impact on their health and well-being.
Participants were asked to score each platform on 14 health and well-being issues.
Based on these ratings, YouTube was considered to have the most positive impact on mental health, followed by Twitter and then Facebook.
Snapchat and Instagram were given the lowest scores overall.
‘Wild West’
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the RSPH, said: “It is interesting to see Instagram and Snapchat ranking as the worst for mental health and well-being – both platforms are very image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in young people.”
In light of the findings, public health experts are calling for social media platforms to introduce a series of checks and measures to help tackle mental health, including:
- Pop-ups warning people that they have used social media for a long time (supported by 70 per cent of young people surveyed)
- Social media platforms identifying users with mental health problems and “discreetly signposting places they can get support”
- Platforms highlighting when photos have been digitally manipulated – for example, fashion brands, celebrities and other advertising organizations could sign up to a voluntary code, allowing a small icon to be displayed on digitally. BBC
