Experts warn: Social media may encourage children to use narcotic substances

A new study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry this week focused on the fact that the earlier and faster teens use social media, the more likely they are to experiment with substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. It is noteworthy that the minimum age for children to use social media platforms is 13 years, but about 40% of teenagers between the ages of 8 and 12 use these platforms.

Experts believe that there are many factors that may lead to substance abuse among adolescents, including friends and family environment. Although these results show an association between the two, they do not prove that early social media use actually causes experience of these substances.

Nagata, the study's lead researcher and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, identified four patterns of social media use among teens between 9 and 16 years old. Based on data from the Teenage Cognitive Brain Development study collected over four years, Nagata classified teens into four groups: the early-onset group included children who started using social media at age 9, while the late-onset group included those who started using their phones at age 11.

Dr. Courtney Blackwell, assistant professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, noted the power of longitudinal data that tracked the same variables over time. She pointed out that there is a lack of this type of data within general research on adolescents’ use of social media and its effects.

The results showed that teens who belonged to three categories of increased use were more likely to try substances than their peers who reported very low or no use. The study also showed that the highest and earliest user group, i.e. those who spend three or more hours a day on social media, have about 17 times higher odds of trying cannabis, and 14 times higher odds of trying tobacco, compared to children who have limited or no use.

“When you are on social media platforms and are exposed to targeted marketing related to substances, or see posts that present substance use in a positive light, all of this may increase the likelihood that teens will try them,” Nagata said. Content Risks Nagata pointed to the types of content on social media that may influence the decision to try substances, especially at a young age.

More than 50% of teens showed exposure to alcohol ads online, while about 61% said that people their age post alcohol-related content on social media. He added that social media portrays substance use in a largely positive light, such as young people having fun at university or attractive advertisements for alcoholic products, explaining that “people are less inclined to publicize the negative consequences that occur, so teenagers may get a biased picture of what they see.”

This positive content may lead to positive perceptions of narcotic substances. Drawing on data from the same study of adolescent cognitive brain development, Nagata found that teens who had a positive view of cannabis were more likely to try it.

A review of 73 studies including content analysis on social media showed that about 77% of substance-related content was positive. “We know that content matters, whether positive or negative, when we think about social media and whether it impacts children's behavior, mental health, or other outcomes,” Blackwell said.

Alcohol ads take up part of the advertising space on social media, with one study finding that about 40,000 ads were published on Facebook and Instagram in one year in Australia. “There are studies that show that even if these ads are not directly ‘targeted,’ it is still somewhat suspicious,” Nagata noted, adding, “I think that teens being exposed to alcohol or substance-related ads on social media is relatively common.”

It Starts at Home The American Psychological Association and American Academy of Pediatrics call for a balance between setting limits and guiding children toward social media best practices. In all discussions of technology and media, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends creating a “family media plan.”

The Academy has also developed a simplified approach to guiding the use of media, known as the “Five Cs.” These include: “Don't wait for a problem to arise,” Nagata commented.

"It's important to be proactive if your child is going to use social media." Blackwell added that healthy communication gives children more independence in making decisions about phone use.

Instead of imposing restrictions without explanation, it is more beneficial to pay attention to what children watch and discuss with them the type of content they follow. Parents also need to model the behaviors they want their children to follow, so that the decisions applied to the children are similar to those applied to the rest of the family.

“If a parent is using social media all day, cutting off communication with their child, you can expect the child to copy this behavior,” Blackwell said. Nagata and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommended looking for ways to regain time lost due to phone use, by introducing high-quality, inclusive activities, such as family time or exercise.

This can help reduce the fear of missing out (FOMO) that many teens feel when they're not glued to their phones, and offer a distraction from social media. “This whole family approach, which includes the child, their views and communication, is a very effective strategy to ensure everyone is involved,” Blackwell said.