Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

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Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Social media has seen much transformation in the last decade, shaping how children and adolescents socialize, communicate, and construct their sense of identity. Platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are deeply ingrained in the social fabric of their users’ lives, shaping the norms of belonging, beauty, and popularity. Although social media continues to facilitate self-expression, connection, and creativity, research reveals that it could have significant psychological costs. The rates of adolescent self-harm, anxiety, and depression have sharply increased in parallel with the increased use of smartphones and social media. Health professionals, educators, and parents are presenting questions on whether this digital immersion directly contributes to or is merely correlated with mental health problems. Although social media can promote self-expression and social connection, evidence demonstrates that comparison-driven, unregulated, and excessive use significantly contributes to mental health issues among children and teenagers, thereby demanding careful mitigation through collaborative strategies that include parental engagement, policy reforms, and digital literacy education.

Empirical evidence and mechanisms for social media use and adolescent mental health

There is a consistent pattern in clinical epidemiological research indicating that heavy social use correlates with increased mental health concerns among children and adolescents. A large-scale review of findings from randomized and longitudinal studies published by CMAJ suggests that the use of smartphones and social media may contribute to the rising burden of suicidality, self-harm, and mental distress among youths (“Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health”).  Similarly, a study published in 2024 by the US National Library of Medicine reveals that adolescents who spend more than three hours on social media daily exhibit double the risk of mental health issues compared to those who use less than one hour daily (“Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youth”). Although these studies are correlational, they reveal a consistent relationship between dose and response, as an increase in usage results in deteriorating mental health.

The mechanism underlying the observed pattern in the dose-response relationship is multifaceted. A significant factor in the relationship is social comparison. Children and adolescents are susceptible to peer belonging and feedback during their developmental stages. They often internalize feelings of failure and inadequacy when they encounter idealized portrayals of others on the internet. As revealed by Alluhidan et al., adolescents’ use of social media is akin to a “mirror that distorts reality” (“Teen Talk: The Good, the Bad, and the Neutral of Adolescent Social Media Use”). They are constantly exposed to the curated lives of others, and this amplifies the pressure they face to conform and look perfect, especially among girls who report more appearance-related anxiety.

Another significant factor in the relationship is cyberbullying. Research reveals that children who experience cyberbullying are more likely to develop symptoms of social withdrawal, post-traumatic stress, and depression (“Exploring Adolescents’ Perspectives on Social Media and Mental Health”). Victims of online harassment can have the harassment follow them around the clock, making them feel that they cannot escape from the situation, something not found in traditional bullying contexts. A Pew Research Center report published in 2023 reveals that 59% of the teenagers in the USA have experienced some form of cyberbullying, with higher reports reported among LGBTQ+ youth and girls (“Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health”).

Yet another significant factor in the relationship is sleep disturbance. Fear of missing out, blue-light exposure, and nighttime scrolling disrupt circadian rhythms and delay sleep onset. Poor sleep, in turn, is linked to diminished coping capacity and heightened emotional reactivity. The US Surgeon General issued an advisory on social media use, emphasizing that social media use among youth has consistently had an adverse effect (“Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence”). Additionally, social media use has displaced health-protective behaviors, including academic engagement, in-person friendships, and exercise. The time spent online replaces time that would otherwise reinforce emotional stability and resilience.

Complexities and moderating factors

The discussed findings are compelling, indicating that the relationship between social media and mental health is complex; however, there is no indication that this relationship is deterministic. Some adolescents get genuine benefits from online interactions, such as the 2023 study reported in the
Journal of Adolescent Health
, which reported that adolescents who use social media for more than five hours every day have elevated depression scores, while moderate users with about one to two hours of daily use report increased peer support and social connectedness (“Associations Between Social Media Use, Psychological Well-Being, and Psychopathology”). As such, the purpose and quality of social media engagement matter as much as quantity.

Moreover, offline variables mediate the psychological effects of social media, including variables like socioeconomic context, peer quality, and parental involvement. Youth who enjoy strong, stable self-esteem and strong family support appear less vulnerable to the negative aspects of social media. Conversely, youths who already experience marginalization, social anxiety, or loneliness are more likely to compulsively use social media and experience harm. This is a bidirectional dynamic in which preexisting distress predicts problematic use, which in turn worsens distress, thus illustrating that causality flows in both directions (Orben and Przybylski 1095).

There is evidence that intentional use of social media can foster resilience. For marginalized teens, the online space offers community validation and information on coping with mental illness and discrimination (“Role of Social Media as a Resource for Mental Health”). For youth in socially and geographically isolated regions, digital communities can be a lifeline of peer connection. Therefore, the challenge is not to demonize social media, but to design structures that maximize the psychological benefits of social media while minimizing exposure to harm.

Counterarguments and rebuttals

Those who argue against research results indicating that social media causes mental health problems argue that the evidence presented is largely correlational and lacks definitive causality. They contend that adolescents face a broad array of stressors, including climate anxiety, economic insecurity, and academic competition, and these may independently explain the rise in youth depression. Additionally, they highlight the methodological limitations of self-report surveys that are prone to social desirability and recall bias effects. Some of them even posit that social media is a scapegoat for the generational anxieties about technology (Odgers 4).

Although these critiques raise valid methodological concerns, the cumulative weight of quasi-experimental and longitudinal research undermines the notion that social media plays a neutral role. Twenge and colleagues analyzed more than 500,000 adolescents across 37 countries, and determined that increased digital media use predicted higher depressive symptoms and lower happiness two years later, even when controlling for baseline mental health (Twenge et al. 348). Such temporal sequencing strengthens the causal inference. Moreover, the scale of exposure, millions of youth spending seven hours or more daily online, means that even modest effect sizes translate into substantial public health consequences.

Yet another counterclaim is that adolescents are more open-minded about their mental health struggles than adolescents in the past. This leads to higher reporting than true prevalence. However, self-harm and suicide statistics, revealed by objective indicators and not reliant on self-report, have sharply increased, suggesting genuine worsening rather than diagnostic inflation (“Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health”). While greater awareness increases reporting, the concurrent escalation in clinical symptoms cannot be dismissed as a mere artifact.

Implications and pathways forward

The evidence presented indicates that the responsibility for mitigating harm must be shared among policymakers, clinicians, educators, families, and individuals. Parents and guardians should encourage digital hygiene, model balanced technology use, promote offline hobbies, and set limits on screen time. Media literacy should be taught in schools, with a focus on critical interpretation of digital content and emotional regulation online. This is based on the awareness that adolescents who discuss social media risks with adults are significantly less likely to develop depressive symptoms (Pew Research Center). Open dialogue is a protective mechanism.

Clinicians, particularly pediatric and psychiatric providers, should incorporate digital behavior assessment into their routine screening for children and adolescents. This would involve inquiring about the platforms used, the time spent, and the emotional responses to online experiences. At the structural level, the online platforms should be regulated, holding social media companies accountable for algorithmic designs that promote addictive engagement and harmful content. A 2023 recommendation by the Surgeon General suggested that there should be greater transparency in algorithmic data and the development of safety standards for adolescent users. There is need for the designs to be modified for risk mitigation, including having built-in screen-time reminders, nighttime restrictions, and moderating content targeting harmful communities (“Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence”).

Conclusion

One must accept that the relationship between social media and youth mental health is complex, yet unmistakably consequential. Interdisciplinary evidence reveals that emotionally charged, unsupervised, and excessive social media use contributes to self-harm, depression, and anxiety among adolescents. Mechanisms, including sleep deprivation, cyberbullying, social comparison, and displacement of healthy activities, explain these outcomes. Although there are positive uses of social media, such as information sharing and community building, the balance of data shows that harm outweighs benefit when use exceeds healthy thresholds. Consequently, there is a need for collective responsibility with parents guiding balanced used, educators teaching digital resilience, clinicians integrating digital assessments, and policymakers enforcing ethical platform designs. A coordinated intervention is required to ensure social media serves as a tool for connection rather than a source of psychological distress.

Works Cited

Alluhidan, Abdulmalik, et al. “Teen Talk: The Good, the Bad, and the Neutral of Adolescent Social Media Use.”
arXiv
, 4 Sept. 2024,
www.arxiv.org/abs/2409.02358
.

“Associations Between Social Media Use, Psychological Well-Being, and Psychopathology.”
Journal of Adolescent Health
, vol. 74, no. 4, 2024,
www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X%2824%2900825-5/fulltext

“Exploring Adolescents’ Perspectives on Social Media and Mental Health.”
National Library of Medicine
, 2023,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9902994/

“Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youth.”
National Library of Medicine
, 2024,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10476631/

Orben, Amy, and Andrew K. Przybylski. “The Association Between Adolescent Well-Being and Digital Technology Use.”
Nature Human Behaviour
, vol. 3, 2019, pp. 109–116.

Odgers, Candice. “Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown.”
American Psychologist
, vol. 76, no. 2, 2021, pp. 279–290.

“Role of Social Media as a Resource for Mental Health.”
National Library of Medicine
, 2023,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10297428/

“Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health.” Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 192, no. 6, 2020, pp. E136–E141, www.cmaj.ca/content/192/6/e136

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence
. 2023,
www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf
.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA

Your argumentative essay will be on a topic from the list of options below. Consider your audience for this paper to be your peers. The essay should be between 3 ½ and 4 pages (850 to 1,000 words) in length, not including the Works Cited page. It should be double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and must meet the following criteria:

An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion

A clearly articulated thesis in the introduction of the paper; the thesis must state the claim, position, or stance that your essay will prove

4 cited sources

At least 4 quotes from your sources

Topic sentences that focus the discussion in each body paragraph

Examples, details, statistics, explanations, and other researched evidence in the body paragraphs that clearly support the claim of your thesis

Counterarguments (at least one but preferably more than one) and refutations that show you understand the complexity of your argument and can accurately acknowledge the views of the opposition and refute them

Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs (transition words and phrases)

Proper MLA style format in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page (Review the template and instructional video for creating the MLA format)

Works Cited page listing a minimum of 4 sources

Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

You will submit your final draft through the Turn-it-in drop box designated for this purpose in the course. Please be aware that although Turn-it-in does allow for similarities for quotations up to 24% of your paper, any similarity above 24% is considered too high for an original paper and will be flagged as plagiarism.

You can get help with your paper at any of the campus writing centers (see the link in the course with this information), and you can also receive online help via SmartThinking, the online tutoring service provided by the College. This service is available by clicking on SmartThinking in the left-hand menu bar of the course under Tools & Resources.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Choose any
one
of the following 16 topics (Note reference resources at the end of the topic list):

Environmental Topics

Research the status of sea level rise in South Florida today and the ways in which it is being addressed through State processes. Make an argument that the solutions today are
or
are not sufficient. Here is a link to a web page that will help you get started with your research:
https://sealevelrise.org/states/florida/
.

Research the effects of the environment on human health. Does the health of the environment affect the health of the human beings within it? Make an argument that supports your answer. Start your research by reading this article:
https://orionmagazine.org/article/beyond-the-patient/
.

How is biodiversity important to a thriving planet? What are the dangers of the high rate of species extinction that the planet is facing? What are the proposed solutions to this problem and how effective will they be? Start your research by reading this article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/05/06/one-million-species-face-extinction-un-panel-says-humans-will-suffer-result/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.98fc33bfad58
. For example, the World Wildlife Federation predicts that elephants will be extinct by 2040, well within the lifetime of many of us:
https://www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-wwf-believes-that-african-elephants-will-be-extinct-by-2040-if-nothing-is-don/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20environmental%20NGO,killed%20for%20its%20ivory%20tusks.&text=World%20Wildlife%20Fund%20(WWF)%20figures,elephants%20in%20Africa%20are%20chilling
.

Are electric vehicles better for the environment? Start your research by reading this article from
Forbes
magazine:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/05/20/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-environment/#5609f23876d2
.

Is vegetarianism better for the environment? Start your research by reading this article from
The Guardian
:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment
and this article from the
Washington Post
:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/18/being-a-vegetarian-might-make-you-feel-environmentally-superior-why-that-may-be-wrong/

 

Social Media Topics

Does use of social media contribute to mental health issues among children and teens?

Does social media empower grassroots movements and marginalized voices. or does it simply create “slacktivism” with little real-world impact?

Should social media platforms be more strictly regulated to protect user privacy, or do users bear the responsibility for their own online safety?

Has social media improved our ability to stay connected or has it weakened meaningful face-to-face interactions?

Does social media negatively impact self-esteem and body image, particularly among teenagers and young adults, or can it foster positive self-expression and community?

 

Artificial Intelligence Topics

Can artificial intelligence truly create original works of art, music, and literature, or are these outputs merely imitations of human creativity?

Will AI enhance the educational experience and provide personalized learning, or will it replace the critical role of human teachers?

Can AI truly create original works of art, music, and literature, or are these outputs merely imitations of human creativity?

Should AI be used in military operations considering the ethical implications?

Can AI truly enhance healthcare outcomes, or does it risk dehumanizing patient care?

Does the rise of AI pose a threat to job security, or will it create new opportunities in the workforce?

 

Here are some more instructions for the paper:

Your MLA paper assignment in this module will consist of the following sections:

Engaging introduction that DEMONSTRATES the issue you are arguing about and leads to a powerful thesis with clear position.

Body paragraphs with clear arguments and research that supports your claims, a paragraph that provides counterarguments for the opposition, and a strong conclusion that reiterates your claim.

The list of at least FOUR references formatted in MLA style at the end of the paper on a Works Cited page.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

 
 

Directions

Submit your Works Cited page for your Documented Argument Essay in MLA

Here are some guidelines to remember: 

Your Works Cited page should have a minimum of four entries, meaning four sources. At least two of your sources should come from the MDC databases.

Formatting for Works Cited page:

Center the words Works Cited one inch from the top of the page.

Double space within and between entries–no extra spaces between entries.

Every line after the first for each source is indented (hanging indentation)

Sources are listed in alphabetical order.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

You can use one of the citation builders to create the entry: Easy Bib, Citation Machine, or another that you find reliable and helpful. HOWEVER, remember that these don’t always provide you with the correct spacing and indentation, and you may have to tweak those in your paper.

 

Your Reference page will be graded according to the following criteria: 

Centered heading that says Works Cited   10 points

Alphabetical listing of sources                     10 points

Correct spacing and indentation                 20 points

Correct information in each entry               20 points

At least 4 sources

(at least 2 from the MDC databases)        40 points

(all sources can be from the databases)

Please note that you can list more than four sources. Four is the minimum and must adhere to the above guidelines.

 You should also use the MDC databases and may use Google Scholar as well. Make sure all articles are from credible sources.

Use this dropbox to submit 
four 
articles you are considering for your paper. If the article is from the database, submit the full-text attachment of the article. If the article comes from a Website, submit the link to the site. Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Remember that you must include at least 2 articles from the MDC databases.