GPS Presents Update on Social Media and Teen Mental Health

Prinstein and Telzer examine the long-term effects of technology and social media use on teen social and emotional development, creating tools for parents, caregivers and teens to make better informed choices about how they interact with technology and social media.

Their preliminary research indicates teenagers spend more than eight hours daily on cell phones, with a significant portion of time on social media. They explore the links between teens’ online behavior and a range of mental health symptoms.

Mitchell J. Prinstein is an author and psychology professor. He is American Psychological Assoication’s chief science officer (CSO), responsible for leading the association’s science agenda and advocating for the application of psychological research and knowledge in settings including academia, government, industry, and the law. He is the former Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology.

Eva Telzer is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill. She is an Associate Editor at Child Development and Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, and the co-director of the Winston National Center on Technology Use, Brain and Psychological Development.