Social Media Use in Teens Linked With Alcohol Use

Preteens' usage of addictive social media usage is linked to both positive and negative attitudes toward alcohol use.

Highlights:

Positive benefits of drinking, such as mingling or relaxing, are frequently depicted in social media posts
Furthermore, teens may come across marketing from alcohol firms on social media that portray alcohol in a positive light
What teens expect from alcohol can be influenced by when they begin drinking. Because these expectations are easily adjustable, they are an excellent target for preventative initiatives

Problematic social media use in early adolescents is associated with both positive and negative alcohol beliefs, which play an important role in predicting alcohol use and, potentially, the development of alcohol use disorder later in life, according to a new national study published in the journal BMC Public Health.

Impact of Social Media Posts About Alcohol

“Many teens observe their friends sharing images or videos of alcohol on social media,” says lead author Jason Nagata, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. “These posts often depict positive aspects of drinking such as socializing or relaxing. Additionally, teenagers may come across advertisements on social media from alcohol companies that show alcohol in a positive light.”

Alcohol expectations are beliefs about how drinking will affect you. These expectations may influence when and if someone begins drinking and continues to drink. Expectations can be acquired from others by seeing the outcomes of their actions, either directly or indirectly through social interactions. As early teenage social media use grows in popularity, it is critical to understand what actions influence these ideas.

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‘Parents may help their children establish healthy social media habits by developing a family media use strategy. They can promote regular discussions about their online activity and teach them how to be safe and responsible while using the internet.’

"The study was conducted mostly before the COVID-19 pandemic, but its findings are especially relevant now since youth social media use rose during the pandemic," noted co-author Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

In a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics, the researchers discovered that adolescent screen time nearly doubled to nearly eight hours daily at the onset of the epidemic.

Social Media Use Influences Alcohol Expectations

Researchers discovered that problematic social media use, defined as use with aspects of addiction such as mood modulation, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse, is connected with both positive and negative alcohol expectations. Peer comparisons and linkages may explain good impressions of alcohol, with 97% of social media posts portraying alcohol in a positive context and adolescents indicating that 60% of their friends post alcohol content on social media. In contrast, social media posts illustrating the effects of drinking, such as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder, may explain negative attitudes.

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The study asked 9,008 early adolescents aged 10 to 14 to express their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of assertions about alcohol's effects. Their responses were then scored, with higher scores suggesting stronger alcohol expectancies. These results were compared to problematic social media use scores obtained by a questionnaire.

Further study is needed, according to the authors, to investigate the linkages and mechanisms behind problematic social media use, alcohol expectations, alcohol use, and alcohol use disorder.

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“What teenagers expect from drinking alcohol can impact when they start drinking. These expectations are easily modifiable, making them a good target for prevention efforts,” says Nagata. “Parents can help their children develop healthy habits around social media by creating a family media use plan. They can encourage regular discussions about their online activities and teach them how to be safe and responsible online. Parents may also choose to monitor their children's social media use to ensure they are engaging in appropriate behavior.”

Source-Medindia

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