Clinical Round Table 16 - Social Media Solutions: Evidence-based Interventions and Policies for Improving Digital Literacy and Mental Health in Youth

In 2023, the US Surgeon General and American Psychological Association released advisories on social media use in adolescents, and the US Congress passed the Children and Media Research Advancement Act. These events highlight the role of social media in teens’ mental health and a need for more research and intervention. Given that adolescence is characterized by biopsychosocial changes like increased neuroplasticity, social media can significantly impact mental health for this age range. For the same reason, it is a crucial window of opportunity for prevention and intervention. Research shows positive and negative effects of social media on teen mental health, which vary based on specific activities (e.g., passive use; problematic use) and individual characteristics (e.g., preexisting mental health issues; marginalized identities). Youth with internalizing symptoms and youth from marginalized backgrounds (e.g., race/ethnicity, disability, LGBTQ+) are particularly at risk for negative experiences on social media, including online victimization and exacerbation of mental health difficulties. Yet, social media is also a powerful tool for seeking support, building community, and engaging in advocacy. Given these complexities, it is crucial to explore how evidence-based interventions can be used to increase digital literacy, reduce symptomatology, and foster overall resilience. 

The primary goals of this clinical roundtable are to: 1) discuss relationships between social media use and internalizing symptoms in adolescents, especially marginalized youth 2) explore evidence-based interventions for youth, caregivers, and educators that promote digital literacy and may mitigate the impact of social media use on mental health symptoms and 3) reflect on the feasibility of implementing digital health interventions in clinical, school, and community settings. Expert panelists from academic, clinical, and administrative settings will discuss opportunities and targets for treatment and specific interventions they have developed, several of which were co-designed with adolescents. Panelists will also integrate how public policies related to social media use do or do not align with evidence-based practices in supporting youth mental health.