At a speaking event centered on youth and social media at Seattle University, Dr. Jean Twenge presented a stark look at the mental health crisis burgeoning among young Americans, associated closely with the rise of smartphones and social media. Drawing from a body of extensive research, her discussion on March 12 was a part of President Eduardo Peñalver's Presidential Speaker Series, revealing the dramatic effects of digital consumption on the well-being of teenagers—a demographic increasingly tethered to their screens.
Dr. Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, has been tracking this worrying trend for over a decade. According to her observations, the tipping point seemed to coincide with a majority of Americans, owning a smartphone as of the end of 2012. She noted that the average American teen now spends 4.8 hours a day on social media based on a 2023 Gallup poll survey, "That’s a lot of time," Dr. Twenge said in her talk, as reported by Seattle University Newsroom.
A correlation is drawn between the increasing unhappiness, depression, and anxiety among youth and the rise of the smartphone era. Dr. Twenge pointed out that recreational activities that traditionally brought joy, such as socializing in person, sports, or even a good night's rest, are being replaced by solitary hours on social media and video games. This digital dominion over young people's leisure time has marked a significant departure from previous generations' paths to contentment.
Despite the evidence, many young people seem resistant to cutting back on social media usage. Lily Barton, a junior accounting major at Seattle University, admitted to spending five to six hours daily on TikTok, "I don’t think that it’s great, but I don’t want to change," Barton confessed, according to an interview with Seattle University Newsroom. She pointed out her desire for a break from the overwhelming news, using social media as an escape.
The struggle to curb the pervasive influence of social media is compounded by the vested interests of tech companies with deep pockets for lobbying. A case in point is the overturning of the TikTok ban by former President Trump, which had initially been approved by Congress, signed by Joe Biden, and OK’d by the U.S. Supreme Court. This maneuver passed largely without substantial public resistance, underscoring the stronghold of social media platforms in everyday life and policy. Nevertheless, Dr. Twenge remains adamant that reducing social media use can reverse some ill effects on mental health, a metric yet to resonate widely across societal attitudes.
Continuing the series' foray into pressing contemporary discussions, President Peñalver will next welcome Columbia Law School Professor Jamal Greene. Professor Greene will address constitutional law topics on May 21 at the Seattle University campus. His expertise and experience in the Department of Justice promised to add another layer of depth to the discourse initiated under the Presidential Speaker Series.
