Doctor warns social media can have lasting consequences for teen girls

According to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control teen girls are experiencing record high levels of sadness.

The report found nearly three in five US teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, a nearly 60% increase from 2011.

“Yes, so disturbing,” said Dr. Allison Chase. “And unfortunately, from a clinical standpoint and what I’m seeing in real life, these numbers are quite accurate.”

Dr. Chase is the regional clinical director for Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center in Texas and says social media can play a major role in a teen’s mental health, especially girls.

“It’s becoming increasingly more challenging for girls to tolerate the influx and the rapid amount of information that’s available all the time,” said Dr. Chase. “These teenage girls, their brains are not fully developed, their capacity is limited and they can’t take in all that they’re seeing and recognizing not everything on social media is the slightest bit accurate.”