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.

Let’s be honest — sleep is the first thing to go when life gets busy. You’ve got school, sports, jobs, group chats, TikTok, Snap streaks, and maybe a parent yelling about cleaning your room. Somewhere in there, you’re supposed to “rest.” Right. The only real “me time” comes at 1 a.m., when you’re tucked under the covers and whispering sweet nothings to your For You Page. That’s not self-care; that’s what TikTok has dubbed revenge bedtime procrastination — staying up late on purpose because you feel like the rest of your day doesn’t belong to you.

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.

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.

One of the most impactful influences on a child, especially when it comes to body image and self-esteem, is the parent of the same sex. For daughters, this means that a mother’s relationship with her own body, food, and health often serves as the most significant model for how a young girl will approach these same issues.

Recent studies confirm what I see in my practice. For instance, a 2023 study published in The Journal of Adolescence found that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media are twice as likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Even more alarming, these teens are at a significantly higher risk of developing suicidal thoughts. Another study from JAMA Network Open in 2022 showed that adolescents who are heavy social media users report feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness at much higher rates . The connection between social media and mental health is undeniable, and as parents, we need to be aware of it.

The statistics are gut-wrenching. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is now the second leading cause of death among kids and teens aged 10 to 24 in the United States. In the last decade alone, the suicide rate in this age group has surged by nearly 60%. Even more heartbreaking, the rate of suicide among children as young as 10 to 14 has almost tripled over the past ten years.