Social media and joining online communities have become a regular part of growing up. Whether you're chatting with friends, watching videos, following influencers, or sharing your own content, social media is a place to explore who you are, what you care about, and how you relate to others.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many young people used social media more often to stay connected and to feel less alone. These platforms helped reduce loneliness and gave youth a space to express themselves and find support. But they also brought new challenges. A constant stream of pandemic-related news, misinformation, and unrealistic posts about “perfect” lives increased stress, self-comparison, and negative self-esteem in many youth. At the same time, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) products such as filters and AI-created influencers made it harder to tell what was real.

Social media platforms are always changing. In 2025, for example, youth were increasingly drawn to:

• Short-form videos (like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts)
• Anonymous questions and chat apps and chat forums (like NGL, Tellonym, and Discord)
• AI-enhanced photo and video editing, as well as AI-generated content. These tools and content can create unrealistic images or ideas that may distort body image expectations or lead to concerns like plagiarism.
• Algorithm-driven content that can keep you scrolling endlessly and expose you to harmful content, which can be hard to stop watching.

Knowing how these tools work helps you make decisions about how to use them in a way that works best for you.

Social media sites can be a useful tool to connect with others, especially if you feel isolated or have trouble connecting with others in person. But research shows that your well-being can be affected if you use these sites too much, too often, or if you can’t stop thinking about them. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to how much time you spend online and how social media makes you feel, especially during tough times.