Youth Mental Health and Social Media Usage
Youth mental health in New York City has been declining for more than a decade. In 2021, 38% of the city’s high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless in the past year that they gave up their usual activities, compared with 27% in 2011. Rates of suicidal ideation also increased, with almost one in 10 NYC high schoolers reporting a suicide attempt in the past year in 2021.
At the same time, social media usage increased. Research shows that social media can distort body image, damage self-esteem and invite addiction.
NYC wants to ensure that social media platforms are safe for young people and to empower them, their caregivers and their communities to use social media in ways that promote well-being and limit unsafe exposure.
The report below examines the various factors surrounding social media use and its impact on mental health. It includes analyses based on data from two surveys conducted in 2023, which explore the social media habits and related mental health experiences of children, teens, and parents in NYC.
- Special Report on Social Media and Mental Health (PDF, June 2024)
- Social Media and Mental Health Data Tables (Excel, May 2026) Note: Tables 3, 5, 6, 7, and 10 in the supplementary material have been updated to include new data calculations related to depressive symptoms, which differ from the figures in the June 2024 report. Please refer to these updated figures rather than those in the special report when citing or discussing trends.
Guidance for Parents and Organizations
Parents, caregivers and leaders of youth-serving organizations can reduce the harm social media has on young people by:
- Supporting social media skill development
- Reducing exposure to harmful content by setting boundaries
- Advocating to make social media less harmful, by getting involved with advocacy groups or contacting the Mayor or their other elected officials
For more information, read:
- Social Media and Youth Mental Health: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers (PDF) Other Languages: Español | Русский | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | العربية | Français | ײִדיש | اردو
- Social Media and Youth Mental Health: A Guide for Youth Serving Organizations (PDF) Other Languages: Español | Русский | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | العربية | Français | ײִדיש | اردو
NYC’s Framework for Action
NYC’s Framework for Action (PDF) is a three-part strategy to bring about social media platform reform and provide support to youth and families by:
- Holding social media companies accountable for making their platforms safer for young people
- Educating young people and their caregivers, teachers and doctors on healthy social media use
- Researching the impacts of social media on NYC youth
Additional Resources
- New York City’s Role in the National Crisis of Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Meeting Proceedings (PDF)
- Social Media Advisory (PDF)
- U.S. Surgeon General: Youth Mental Health
- U.S. Surgeon General: Social Media and Youth Mental Health