Every second, it seems, a new term will become the latest trend. You will find it casually thrown into sentences everywhere you go. And when you ask, “What does this mean?” Most of the time, you will be met with “I saw it on Instagram, TikTok, or X.” Today, the younger generation absorbs messages, language, and behaviors from social media, where they obtain their ideals, morals, and self-understanding. Nearly all teens use social media daily, habitually checking accounts multiple times per day. Constant and unending consumption of information means that social media is no longer just a pastime; it is a lens through which younger generations interpret reality.

Notably, social media has had rewarding outcomes for its users. Social media has provided an online platform for some and allowed others to cultivate communities based on shared interests. For instance, users have created activist groups through social media, embedding causes into algorithms that spread their advocacy to a large number of people. Digital movements improve accessibility, increasing involvement due to the speed and simpler format for delivering information. Movements such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter demonstrate how social media platforms can mobilize millions in real time. 

However, with this connectivity also comes dire consequences. Arguably, social media has become a “default source” for information, meaning that, unfortunately, the dominance of social media consumption has increased the risk of misinformation, self-diagnosis, algorithmic influence, and manipulation. As a result, what young users perceive as “education” are often claims that lack accuracy, depth, and critical oversight.

Social media platforms have also acknowledged their influence over the public. TikTok has been advertising educators across social media platforms to advance the narrative that the platform is indeed beneficial for engagement and learning. However, there has been no statement on the negative consequences of using social media as an educational source. This selective promotion reveals how platforms choose to highlight positive effects while masking the repercussions of unregulated information.

Social media has enabled users to find supportive communities and share lived experiences, but not without harmful ramifications. A prime example is self-diagnosing, where an individual ascribes a specific clinical condition to their experience without the expertise or advice of a health professional. Teens are turning to TikTok to self-diagnose mental health conditions, treating the platform like a medical expert. 

Additionally, several TikTok influencers and nonprofessionals frequently present information on mental health that is not clinically proven to boost their content’s engagement. The current assessment of behavioral health in TikTok content demonstrates that the majority of mental health content creators are non-healthcare professionals. Consequently, misinformation spreads rapidly, blurring the line between fabrication and the truth.

Although TikTok prides itself on mental health awareness, its regulation of detrimental content is limited. For instance, several TikTok videos about ADHD are misleading, and fewer than half align with actual diagnostic criteria. Additionally, algorithmic radicalization is a key concern because it can progressively push viewers toward more extreme content. While users engage with mental health content to find a community, they are also perpetuating an algorithm that includes any content related to mental health, including dangerous narratives on suicide. This perpetuates a feedback loop in which users seeking help or community are unintentionally exposed to triggering content.

Another example of algorithmic radicalization is prevalent on YouTube. YouTube’s algorithm is skewed to promote more extreme and sensational content, which increases engagement and misinformation. While this can be harmless in some entertainment industries, for news and health content, this could lead to destructive societal outcomes, including echo chambers. Echo chambers perpetuate similar-belief content that rarely confronts users with alternative perspectives. For example, in a political context, right-leaning users are more likely to be recommended extremist content associated with their views. As a result, their political knowledge is obstructed by extreme views that degrade others, thereby limiting a well-rounded understanding of current events. 

Society must recognize that younger generations are entrenched in digital ecosystems. Incorporating media literacy, critical thinking, and digital fluency in school curricula is essential. In the United States, only New Jersey, Delaware, and Texas teach media literacy, despite the prevalence of algorithmic misinformation around the country. Integrating digital literacy education could encourage younger generations to evaluate online information with thoughtfulness first. With reliable education, we could harness the advantages of social media and tame its darker aspects. 

Social media consumption shapes how the younger generation sees the world because it is a vital source of both identity and information. However, while social media grants youth a voice and community, we must support structures that help them navigate and question the content they absorb. Without this, the next generation risks inheriting the biases and distortions embedded within social media.