Teens Aren’t Blaming Tech for Their Anxiety
Instagram, TikTok, and other social media are often blamed for a rise in anxiety among young people — but they say smartphones aren’t to blame
In the mid-1980s, heavy metal was put on trial. Hand-wringing puritans believed young listeners were at risk of “demonic possession” thanks to the satanic messaging they claimed was embedded in recordings. The idea is laughable today, and yet there’s a similar hysteria developing over fears that technology is causing an epidemic of anxiety in our teenagers. But is tech really at the root of the issue, or is this just another chapter in America’s rich history of moral panics?
This past February, Pew Research published a survey concluding that seven out of 10 children aged 13 to 17 view anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that while depression remained static between 2007 and 2012, rates of anxiety increased significantly. Today’s teenagers have had access to smartphones and social media from babyhood, so it seems logical to link an uptick in anxiety to our increasing dependence on technology. But many experts remain skeptical.
“Anxiety is an inhibiting response that prepares us for threats and keeps us…
