Information shared by Social Media Victims Law Center

Over the last ten years, there has been a significant rise in the risk of teenage suicide. Although several factors play a role in an individual’s choice to take their life, recent studies have established connections between mental health issues such as depression and suicidal ideation, and social media usage.

About 46,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ⁽¹⁾. People die by suicide at a rate of 14 per 100,000. Among children and young adults, 10 to 24, the suicide rate is 10.7 per 100,000 ⁽²⁾, and suicide is the second-leading cause of death among this age group ⁽³⁾.

While several studies have found a correlation between social media and internet use and suicide, determining a causal relationship between the two is difficult. Many factors contribute to an individual’s decision to end their life. However, researchers ⁽⁴⁾ have determined that social media can increase the suicide risk in several ways while also potentially contributing to suicide prevention.

How Has Social Media Use Affected Teen Suicide Rate?

Researchers have linked several aspects of social media use to depression and higher suicide risk.⁽⁵⁾ And according to the CDC, the suicide rate for male teens increased 31 percent between 2007 and 2015 and female teen suicides hit a 40-year high in 2015.⁽⁶⁾

Over the past decade, the rate of teen suicide has risen dramatically. At the same time, social media use has also risen among teens. The first factor that has caused an increase in suicide prevalence rates among teens on social media is overuse.  A 10-year longitudinal study at BYU discovered that teenage girls who spent two to three hours daily on social media at age 13 were at a higher risk for suicide as young adults.⁽⁷⁾ Researchers concluded that girls and women are more relationally attuned and more sensitive to posts not being well-received comparisons, and lack of online connections. They also tend to be more emotionally attached to the content they post, while boys tend more often to post and read funny content, according to a Pew Research Center report.⁽⁸⁾ A blog quoting social media expert Jamie Zelazny notes that teens of both genders who report using social media platforms more than two hours a day experience poor mental health outcomes, including suicidal thoughts.

A second factor is the content to which teens expose themselves. Teens sometimes fall victim to posts encouraging unhealthy challenges. A University of Utah blog discusses the Blue Whale challenge, which encourages teens on Snapchat to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as cutting or burning that lead to suicide.⁽⁹⁾ Following people who have a negative influence and passively scrolling tend to negatively affect health more than actively engaging and posting, the BYU research showed.

How Social Media Bullying Might Contribute to Increased Teen Suicide Rates

Social media use and overuse can make young people more vulnerable to cyberbullying. NBC News recently documented the case of 15-year-old Sadie Riggs. Other students constantly taunted Sadie for having red hair and braces in school hallways and on social media. Some posts encouraged her to kill herself, and she eventually did.⁽¹⁰⁾

A systematic review has shown a link between suicidal behavior and being a victim of cyberbullying.⁽¹¹⁾ This causal relationship was most significant among kids who had other mental health issues or negative life influences or who were also victims of traditional bullying. Also, studies have tied social media use to an increased risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal ideas.⁽¹²⁾

Warning Signs of Teen Suicide

Parents who believe their child is considering suicide should seek help right away. Here are other warning signs that a teen may be considering suicide:

• Self-destructive behaviors, such as an increased use of alcohol, drugs, and cutting
• Withdrawing socially
• Expressions of feeling trapped or hopeless
• Noticeable changes in routines, especially sleeping and eating
• Giving away possessions without explanation
• Personality changes and wide mood swings
• Loss of interest in schoolwork or previously enjoyable activities
• Physical complaints that seem to lack a physical cause, such as stomachaches or fatigue
• Unnecessary risk-taking
• Neglecting their appearance
• Failing to respond to praise
• Feeling bored or expressing boredom frequently
• Writing suicide notes
• Seeming preoccupied with death or expressing weird sentiments
• Problems focusing

Teenage years are stressful. Regular developmental changes coupled with other life events can put boys and girls at risk for depression and suicide. Johns Hopkins University statistics show that girls are more likely to attempt suicide than boys, but boys are four times as likely to succeed.⁽¹⁴⁾

Suicide threats are a cry for help and should never be ignored, JHU says. In fact, the most significant predictor of whether someone will take their own life is whether they’ve previously expressed suicidal thoughts, according to DW.⁽¹⁵⁾

Getting Help for Your Suicidal Teen

If you notice signs of suicidal thoughts or plans, here are ways to help your teen:

• Keep the lines of communication open and ask your teen directly if they are thinking of killing themselves if you notice any signs.
• Listen to your child.
• Encourage your teen to remain involved in their favorite activities.
• Remove any potential suicide weapons.
• Find a therapist in your area or, if you don’t know one, use and encourage your teen to use Crisis Text Online to text or chat with one.
• In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Finally, if you believe your teen’s depression or suicidal thoughts or attempts are related to social media use or cyberbullying, contact the Social Media Victims Law Center today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you during this difficult time.

Related Online CE Courses:

Ethics and Social Media is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines the use of Social Networking Services (SNS) on both our personal and professional lives. Is it useful or appropriate (or ethical or therapeutic) for a therapist and a client to share the kinds of information that are routinely posted on SNS like Facebook, Twitter, and others? How are therapists to handle “Friending” requests from clients? What are the threats to confidentiality and therapeutic boundaries that are posed by the use of social media sites, texts, or tweets in therapist-client communication? The purpose of this course is to offer therapists the opportunity to examine their practices in regard to the use of social media services in their professional relationships and communications. Included are ethics topics such as privacy and confidentiality, boundaries and multiple relationships, competence, the phenomenon of friending, informed consent, and record keeping. A final section offers recommendations and resources for the ethical use of social media and the development of a practice social media policy.

Cyberbullying is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews evidenced-based research for the identification, management, and prevention of bullying in the online world. Bullies have moved from the playground and workplace to the online world, where anonymity can facilitate bullying behavior. Cyberbullying is intentional, repeated harm to another person using communication technology. It is not accidental or random. It is targeted to a person with less perceived power. This may be someone younger, weaker, or less knowledgeable about technology. Any communication device may be used to harass or intimidate a victim, such as a cell phone, tablet, or computer. Any communication platform may host cyberbullying: social media sites (Facebook, Instagram), applications (Snapchat, AIM), websites (forums or blogs), and any place where one person can communicate with – or at – another person electronically. The short and long-term effects of bullying are considered as significant as neglect or maltreatment as a type of child abuse. This course will describe specific cyberbullying behaviors, review theories that attempt to explain why bullying happens, list the damaging effects that befall its victims, and discuss strategies professionals can use to prevent or manage identified cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a fast-growing area of concern, and all healthcare professionals should be equipped to spot the signs and provide support for our patients and clients, as well as keep up with the technology that drives cyberbullying.

Suicide Prevention: Evidence-Based Strategies is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews evidence-based research and offers strategies for screening, assessment, treatment, and prevention of suicide in both adolescents and adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, “Suicide is a serious but preventable public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities.” The CDC recommends a public health approach, with prevention efforts emanating from individuals, families, and communities who make changes to affect the social environment. Healthcare professionals and teachers can contribute to prevention efforts through awareness, promotion of resilience, and a commitment to social change. Any approach to a mental health issue should be made using an evidence-based approach. The Evidence-Based Behavioral Practice Project (EBBP), funded by the Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research, recommends that professionals in the health and social sciences acquire and use a “shared vocabulary and conceptual grounding” to help share ideas and skills based on research and proven efficacy. Prevention is key: reducing risk factors and promoting resilience. This course will provide a review of evidence-based studies so that healthcare professionals are informed on this complex subject. Information from the suicide prevention technical package from the CDC will be provided. Included also are strategies for screening and assessment, prevention considerations, methods of treatment, and resources for choosing evidence-based suicide prevention programs.

Professional Development Resources, a small Florida nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992, is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, Board of Psychology, Office of School Psychology, Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (#193); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported next business day, currently reporting for 47 boards). Learn more about us.

Target Audience: Psychologists, School Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists (MFTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and Teachers

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