Social Media Use Associated with Risky Health Behaviors in Young People, Study Finds

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A review of the latest evidence published by The BMJ has revealed that social media use is linked to risky health behaviors in young people. The study found that increased alcohol, drug, and tobacco use, anti-social behavior, risky sexual behaviors, and gambling are all associated with social media usage among adolescents.

One of the strongest pieces of evidence found in the study was the exposure to risky health behavior content on social media, particularly alcohol advertising. This exposure had a significant impact on alcohol use and unhealthy eating. While the study identifies this correlation, further research is needed to establish causality, understand the effects on health inequalities, and determine which aspects of social media have the most harmful impact.

The use of social media has rapidly expanded, and it is now being recognized as a platform to promote health. However, there is growing concern over its potential influence on risky health behaviors among adolescents. Previous studies have identified harmful links between social media and certain behaviors, but these studies focused primarily on university and college students, did not specifically investigate social media, and did not evaluate the quality of the studies.

To address this knowledge gap, the researchers conducted a thorough examination of the association between social media use and risky health behaviors in adolescents aged 10 to 19. The findings were based on an analysis of over 250 social media measures reported in 73 studies conducted between 1997 and 2022. The studies involved 1.4 million adolescents, with an average age of 15 years. Most of the studies were conducted in high-income countries and varied in quality. However, the researchers were able to assess the certainty of evidence using the GRADE system, which is a recognized method for evaluating the quality of research.

The analysis revealed that frequent or daily social media use was associated with higher odds of alcohol consumption (48%), drug use (28%), and tobacco use (85%) compared to infrequent or non-daily use. It was also found that frequent or daily social media use was linked to risky sexual behaviors, such as sexting, transactional sex, and inconsistent condom use (77%), as well as anti-social behavior, including bullying, physical assault, and aggressive/delinquent behavior (73%). Additionally, adolescents who used social media frequently or daily had nearly three times the odds of engaging in gambling compared to those who used it infrequently or non-daily.

The study also highlighted the impact of exposure to risky health behavior content on social media. Unhealthy eating and alcohol use were particularly affected by this exposure. Specifically, stronger associations were found for adolescents aged 16 years and older and for exposure to user-generated content compared to marketer-generated content. Additionally, spending at least two hours a day on social media doubled the odds of alcohol consumption compared to using it for less than two hours daily.

The researchers acknowledge that most social media measures relied on personal recall, and there is a possibility that other unmeasured factors, such as parental health risk behaviors, may have influenced the results. Despite this limitation, the study provides a comprehensive review, and steps were taken to minimize the impact of factors such as variation in study designs and publication bias.

The researchers conclude that experimental and risk-taking behaviors are a natural part of adolescence. However, as safeguards for the digital world are still evolving, caution is warranted across academic, governmental, health, and educational sectors before the risks associated with adolescents’ use of social media are fully understood.

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it

Ravina
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Ravina Pandya,  Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. With an MBA in E-commerce, she has an expertise in SEO-optimized content that resonates with industry professionals.