Dr. Jim Davies, Dr. Kim Hellemans, and Dr. Andrea Howard explore what research really says about social media’s impact on youth mental health. This episode discusses the psychological underpinnings of social media reward systems, whether it’s possible to be addicted to social media, and practical methods you can use to avoid getting sucked into social media against your will.



This is part one of a two-part series on social media and mental health. Part two will be released on July 1st and explore the efficacy of recent bans on phones and social media in educational environments, the role of parents and governments in dealing with this issue, and social media as a coping mechanism.



This is a live recording of Beyond the Headlines: Social Media, Youth and the Science of Well-Being, an event that was hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science on May 21, 2025, at Carleton University.