Digital Wellness Tips for Teens

Today’s teens are saturated in internet culture, affecting how they think, relate and cope with their lives. Digital algorithms are increasingly shaping what teenagers see, hear, experience and prioritize. Even those who don’t own smartphones are affected by the internet’s influence because trends and social norms migrate from online into homes, schools and offline when teens interact.

How This Affects Their Mental Health

According to a 2024 report by the Pew Research Center, about one-third of U.S. teenagers are on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram almost constantly. While on these platforms, they are actively and passively consuming mental health content. Nearly 40% of teens surveyed by Pew say they’ve searched YouTube for mental health information, 34% have used TikTok and 23% have used Instagram to look up mental health topics.

However, according to researchers who analyzed social media content on mental health, much of that content is misleading or incorrect. An analysis of TikTok videos conducted in 2021 found that one-third of videos tagged with the #mentalhealth hashtag were more misleading than scientifically accurate. Another analysis in 2025 found that approximately 16% appeared to be deliberate misinformation. Consequently, teens are becoming stressed, overwhelmed, scared and confused. 

Learning and Practicing Digital Wellness

Learning to responsibly use digital tools can be a critical 21st century skill. Here are some tips teens can use:

1. Learn to identify the difference between harmful and helpful screen time. Spending large amounts of time endlessly scrolling isn’t helpful. Teens can ask themselves how using technology makes them feel before, during and after use. This helps them develop media mindfulness. 
2. Build offline skills by improving a teen’s communication and connection with others. Create and practice a digital diet that includes deliberately decreasing online time while increasing interpersonal interactions, like playing board games or walking outside. Concrete practice helps develop emotional regulation and strengthen interpersonal skills. 
3. Learn to distinguish between reliable sources of mental health information and misinformation. Reliable content typically has expert sources that are vetted with clear explanations of diagnoses and treatment approaches. 
4. Have a conversation about when, how and why human support is necessary and learn when human connection is needed. For example, during times of distress, reaching out and spending time with a caring person can be more helpful than posting to social media. 

Adapted from “Social Media Minefield” by Jennifer L.W. Fink. Special thanks to Cory Clark, PhD, LCMHCS; Chris Hennington, PhD, LPC-S; Hayley Stulmaker, PhD, LPC-S; and Olivia Uwamahoro (Williams), PhD, LPC, for contributing to that story.