Statements like “I’m so OCD,” “I’m depressed” and “I’m so bipolar” are frequently heard on social media and among teenagers. The problem with these casual claims is that often, people are sharing their immediate emotions, and not long term mental health conditions. In recent years, mental health has become a national conversation and in most ways, that’s a positive change. It’s led to more awareness of mental health, but it has also resulted in some people exaggerating their conditions and ignoring the severity of mental illness, especially on social media. Since it’s such a common topic, people feel like they can use it as a joke, or diagnose themselves with anxiety or depression when they’re really just feeling nervous or sad. As a result, people who face mental health conditions may be taken less seriously.

Teenagers have mixed views on how social media affects their mental health. According to data from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s advisory on social media and youth mental health, 46% of youth ages 13-17 stated that social media makes them feel worse about their body image. On the other hand, the National Center for Health Research noted a 2022 survey in which 32% of adolescents said that social media has a mostly positive impact on their life.

Despite these varied perspectives, social media is a large contributor to the destigmatization of mental health. Online, it is easier for people to make jokes about mental illnesses and spread misinformation. An influencer can post something false about symptoms of depression on TikTok, and thousands can view the content and believe that they have depression. Social media has led to a lot of teenagers using TikTok or Instagram as their first source of information, instead of going to a reliable source.

Mental health is much more serious than most social media influencers make it out to be. Still, people who are struggling with mental health can feel more seen due to the increase of representation and conversation about mental health on various platforms. In a 2022 study of about 1,300 U.S. teenagers by the Pew Research Center, 58% responded that they feel more accepted with social media, and 67% said that social media can help them through tough times. The openness to discuss mental health is not the problem, nor is finding a community online–the problem lies when social media replaces a trusted doctor providing a diagnosis or offering treatments.

Mental health has been too destigmatized on social media. There are far too many insensitive jokes and generalizations, as well as a lack of knowledge of how to use specific terms. When discussing mental health on social media, make sure to use the right terms, and be sure to not spread misleading information.