Involvement in Social Media
These days, teens are inundated with references to illicit drug and alcohol use — and it’s not just on TV anymore. With smartphones, other smart technology and easy access to the internet, social media and the digital space now play significant roles in the lives of teens.
In particular, social media has seemed to desensitize the consequences of substance abuse. Over 70% of one popular pro-marijuana Twitter account’s followers are 19 or younger, while only 10% of this account’s posts mention any risks associated with the drug. Access to what kids see online and who they interact with is typically unregulated.
As the ubiquity of social media increases, along with access to these sites opening to younger crowds, we’re starting to see a correlation to teen substance use. Among teens receiving substance abuse treatment, 94% report that their social media friends post drug-related content online and 66% report that seeing this kind of content fed their own urge to use.