Remember what it was like to be a teenager? For some, these were the “glory days”—the time in our lives when we were enjoying weekends free of homework, having ample time to hang with friends, and dreaming the big plans we had for all the “adult” things around the corner.
While the teenage years may have given us some of our best memories, we also remember the hard moments that came with this life stage. Trying to define who you are, who you want to be, and what your relationship with Jesus is can be a challenge for anybody.
And in today’s complicated world, teens are struggling more than ever. Researchers around the world are sounding alarms over concerning trends of loneliness, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues among this population. A global crisis appears to be on the horizon.
In a society that champions advancement, many of the tools that connect all parts of the world and aim to make life easier come with unintended consequences. Among teens especially, increased use of social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube is strongly linked to this rise in mental health issues. But that is only one piece of the troubling puzzle. There has been a noticeable decrease in religious and spiritual engagement among this up-and-coming generation.
Setting out to get a clear picture about what was happening, a 2023 study conducted by the Center of Bible Engagement (CBE) looked at relationship between a teen’s personal usage of social media, their mental health, and their spiritual engagement. Using online questionnaires requiring parental consent, the CBE surveyed over 4,204 teenagers aged 14 to 17 across nine countries.
While there are limitations with every research project, the 91% completion rate for this survey solidify the CBE’s final conclusions: Spiritual uncertainty combined with negative social media and societal influences may increase vulnerability to mental health struggles. Across the board, there was a significant link between high social media use and increased destructive thoughts, but especially in the US and UK.
What do these concerning patterns with our teens look like? The participants who reported feeling spiritually uncertain were more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts, while those reporting stronger spiritual engagement—particularly Bible engagement—showed to have decreased rates of experiencing these dark thoughts. These findings were also supported by the correlation between time spent on social media and self-reported destructive thoughts.
So what can we do to help?
Unfortunately, we know most problems do not come with a straightforward solution, despite how much we wish it did. However, if you are concerned about these issues affecting teens you know, a great place to start is to have a conversation. Parents, church leaders, and communities can come alongside the youth with interventions that encourage healthy social media habits and stronger spiritual connections that may reduce the risk of developing destructive thoughts.
There will always be negative voices our teens will wrestle with. But we can all be the loudest voice that reminds them how wonderfully and fearfully God made them, and that they are capable of so much more than what their screens are telling them.
