So here’s the thing: everybody on TikTok is telling you to be the “main character.” Cute idea. Except somewhere between “romanticize your iced coffee” and “quit your job to travel,” young adults are quietly drowning in anxiety.

According to the World Health Organization, one in seven adolescents is living with some type of mental disorder (WHO, 2021). That’s not just “a few kids who can’t handle it” — that’s millions of teens worldwide. In the U.S., the CDC reports that about 20% of teens have felt anxious in the past two weeks and around 18% report feeling depressed (CDC, 2023). Translation: you are not the only one.

In the end, while the world keeps spinning with or without our constant attention, our mental well-being needs deliberate care. So, the next time you feel that familiar pang of anxiety while scrolling through your feed, remember: it’s not you, it’s your brain—just doing its best to handle a world it wasn’t designed for.

Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms among teenagers. Its unique features, such as disappearing messages, creative filters, and Stories, have captivated young users, making it a dominant force in teen social media usage. However, with its rise in popularity, there are also significant concerns about the potential dangers associated with its use.