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Urgent Alert: Social Media’s Hidden Toll on Youth Mental Health Demands Immediate Action

  • Writer: Natalie Frank
    Natalie Frank
  • Jun 11
  • 1 min read

Unprecedented rise in adolescent anxiety and suicide attempts linked to online platforms highlights global emergency


Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D June 11, 2025

The Journalist Resource [CC BY-ND 4.0]
The Journalist Resource [CC BY-ND 4.0]

AMSTERDAM — A compelling report issued Wednesday by the children’s advocacy organization KidsRights warns that uncontrolled growth of social media is driving a dramatic surge in mental health issues among children and teenagers worldwide. The study reveals that one in every seven young people between the ages of 10 and 19 now face mental health challenges, while the global suicide rate for 15- to 19-year-olds stands at a troubling six per 100,000 individuals.


These disturbing figures, experts caution, likely represent “the tip of the iceberg” due to pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide, making accurate reporting extremely challenging. “This year's report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer,” said Marc Dullaert, chair of KidsRights, underscoring the urgency of the situation.



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