We’ve all heard about the mental health struggles that come with social media: endless scrolling, comparison culture, and the pressure to present a curated life. But the recently released Archewell Foundation’s Insight Report 2024, the second one of its kind, cuts through the noise. It’s not just a look at statistics or vague recommendations. This report centers on real conversations with teens and young adults from places as diverse as Colombia, India, Kenya, and the United States. Their voices offer a raw, unfiltered look at the emotional toll -- and yes, sometimes the benefits -- of living in the digital age.
The Archewell Foundation is founded and led by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Social Media: Empowering and Overwhelming
In the Insight Sessions conducted by The Archewell Foundation, young people frequently used words like “overwhelmed,” “anxious,” “pressured,” and “insecure” to describe their online experiences. At the same time, they also spoke of feeling “connected” and “empowered.” It’s a paradox familiar to anyone who has spent time in digital spaces.
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These teens recognize the opportunities that social media offers. They’re excited about the potential for community-building, access to information, and self-expression. But they’re also acutely aware of the downsides. One UK-based participant captured it perfectly: “There’s just so much going on in the world, and the exposure to all of that is the overwhelming part… it makes it very difficult to switch off and not be bombarded with information 24/7.”
And that’s the key takeaway here: Teens don’t just want more content. They want more control. The report’s findings make it clear that today’s teens are yearning for digital spaces where they can have some agency over what they see and engage with online.
Doom-Scrolling and Self-Blame: The Addictive Nature of Social Media
One of the most striking revelations from the Archewell report is just how deeply teens understand the manipulative power of social media algorithms, yet feel powerless to resist them. We all know the feeling: You open your phone with the intention of checking a single notification, and before you know it, hours have disappeared in a haze of doom-scrolling.
Teens are acutely aware of this, and they talk about it in almost confessional terms. A young person from the U.S. said, “Instagram’s algorithm is quite addictive. They know exactly what I want to look at, and then I end up wasting too much time on it, but then I can’t stop; it’s hard.”
Here’s where it gets troubling. Rather than placing the blame on the platforms, many teens internalize the responsibility, believing it’s their fault that they can’t stop scrolling. This self-blame is dangerous because it obscures the very real ways in which platforms are designed to exploit human psychology. The constant push-pull between the desire to disconnect and the compulsion to stay connected is wearing down the mental health of an entire generation.
The Comparison Trap
Beyond the addictive nature of these platforms, social media is fostering a dangerous comparison culture. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are the breeding grounds for this, where teens are constantly exposed to curated versions of other people’s lives. These aren’t just random strangers; they’re classmates, celebrities, influencers -- people that teens either look up to or feel they’re in competition with. And that’s a tough burden to bear.
Teens in the report spoke openly about how social media affects their self-esteem. One young person from Scotland noted, “When we see people living a life that maybe we want to have because they’re doing something that we’re not… we feel pressure to do what they’re doing to live that life that they’ve portrayed.” Another teen from India echoed this sentiment, stating, “It can affect your sense of self and your confidence. It can even affect your identity.”
The report makes it clear:If we don’t address the toxic culture of comparison, we’re going to see a generation of young people who are disconnected not just from others, but from themselves.
The Cost of “Free” Social Media
Teens were quick to point out that the so-called “free” nature of social media is misleading. A U.S. participant said it bluntly: “There’s no way there can be so much money made on something allegedly free without someone paying for it, and I’d say that’s us.”
This critical lens is something that should inspire all of us to push for more accountability from tech companies. If the most tech-savvy generation is calling out the cost of “free” social media, it’s time we listen.
A Way Forward: Digital Literacy and Empowerment
So, what’s the way forward? The Archewell Foundation’s Insight Report doesn’t just highlight the problems—it points to solutions. One of the most powerful recommendations is the need for digital literacy, especially when it comes to tech ethics and design. Teens need to be equipped with the tools to critically engage with the digital world, rather than be passive consumers.
The report also calls for a rethinking of how we regulate and design these platforms. Rather than focusing solely on age restrictions, we need to look at the broader context of platform design and the ways in which it fosters unhealthy behaviors. Teens want a seat at the table. They want to be part of the solution.
By centering the voices of teens and young adults, the Archewell Foundation’s reminding us all that the future of technology shouldn’t be shaped by Silicon Valley alone -- it should be shaped by those who will live with its consequences. And if we listen closely, we might just learn how to build a better online world for all of us.