If you were to think of social media platforms you used as a teenager, you probably would be able to just list down a handful. In the present world, however, social media has evolved into gigantic digital arenas filled with traffic and glamour, with usage that is consistently increasing. This usage is mostly rampant amongst teenagers, with research claiming that up to 95% of children aged 13-17 are using a social media platform, with more than a third using it almost constantly. This is why it’s more important now than ever to understand the link between social media and teen mental health.

As a parent, you’ll witness your child through their many emotional phases. Happy for their first day of school, cranky about the math test, giddy after a sleepover, or heartbroken over a lost friendship. These emotional ups and downs are a natural and essential part of growing up. But when emotions like sadness or irritability linger for longer than expected, it could be a sign of something else!! Depression in children and teens goes unnoticed because it doesn’t show up the way depression in adults does.