According to Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, the rapid rise of smartphone and social media use among teens has led to a drastic increase in mental health issues—caused by less face-to-face interaction and more screen hours. This serves as a wake-up call for all parents to act quickly to save the younger generation. 

Too much screen time is strongly linked to: 

• Anxiety 

• Loneliness 

• Lack of physical activity 

• Sleep problems

Let me break this down: 

Loneliness

Many use social media to fight boredom and find a sense of belonging. But what we often don’t realize is that this can increase our loneliness. 

Why go out and interact when everything can happen online? 

The sad truth is: how many of our so-called online friends care about our struggles? Don’t get me wrong—some do—but not all. 

Social media often makes us feel more alone and causes us to miss out on meaningful real-life interactions. 

Ask yourself this: if facebook dating apps are so social, why are many users still single? 

No matter how connected social media makes us feel, it can never replace the benefits of real, in-person relationships. 

Anxiety 

Social media fuels constant comparison and FOMO (fear of missing out). 

Think about this: when you take multiple pictures—at the beach, on vacation, or with friends—do you post the worst one? No. We usually pick the best ones to share with the world. 

Apply that logic to other people’s posts, and it’s easy to see how social media creates anxiety in teens who don’t realize others are doing the same. 

This is why many teens today feel left out—they don’t want to feel behind in life or experience FOMO. 

Lack of Physical Activity

Spending long hours on screens leads to a sedentary lifestyle. Over time, that becomes harmful to mental well-being. 

As humans, we’re designed to move, not sit all day. Our ancestors didn’t have screens—they survived by moving, exploring, and staying active. 

But now, most people seek “quick dopamine” from screens instead of the “slow dopamine” that comes from real-life rewards like physical activity, accomplishment, or connection. 

Sleep Problems 

Addiction to social media disrupts sleep patterns. It leads to stress, agitation, lack of focus, and even depression. 

Let’s not forget about blue light—it interferes with melatonin levels and delays our bedtime, making healthy sleep harder to achieve. 

How Social Media Impacted Me 

I used to consume a lot of content on social media and TV. For me, it was scrolling on Facebook or posting WhatsApp stories. 

I honestly don’t remember how I got addicted. One thing I know—it was just so hard to stop. 

Every like, comment, or views I got gave me a dopamine hit. That kept me posting more and more. 

I’d send tons of friend requests just to grow my social circle and feel more “confident.” I’d watch celebrity reels, funny videos, and content from my favorite YouTubers. 

Every day away from social media felt boring—like I was missing something important. 

The scary part? I wasn’t even aware of how much time I was spending or how much it was affecting my life. I just thought it was normal. 

The Turning Point 

One day, feeling isolated and overwhelmed, I made the decision to take a digital detox. 

No Facebook. No WhatsApp statuses. No Instagram. 

It was hard. I quit and restarted multiple times—especially when I felt bored or alone. 

Then I came up with a plan: replace screen time with something healthy and consistent. 

For me, that was exercise. 

I started small—went on a full-day hike—then pushed myself to stick to regular exercise for two months. 

That changed everything. 

Exercise helped me sleep better, eat healthier, gain confidence, and even start reading more. That’s how I slowly regained control over my social media habits.