While these numbers are not scary when use is monitored and purposeful, they show a scary potential for harmful messages being circulated. Recent studies show that teenagers who are constantly exposed to drugs through social media are about three times more likely to experiment with the named substances.<\/p>\n

Do Social Media Ads Influence Teen Drug Use?<\/h1>\n

The truth is that celebrities are not the only people on social media who have an impact on teen drug use. While it is illegal to target minors with alcohol, tobacco, and drug ads, social media provides an unprecedented opportunity for these industries. Various studies have examined the effects of social media ads that display substance use on underaged people.<\/p>\n

The results are alarming, with 75 % of the exposed subjects reporting a high likelihood of experimenting with the drugs they previously saw on social media. The explanation lies not only in subliminal messaging but also in the adolescent desire to feel the same way the people in the ads seem to. This has been linked to the increase in underage alcohol and tobacco use, with over 30 % being attributed to premature exposure to social media ads.<\/p>\n

Another crucial result that the studies reveal is that seeing photos of happy substance users increases the likelihood of teenagers experimenting with drugs. The ones who were subjected to such images on social media are three times more likely to consume alcohol and four times more likely to try marijuana.<\/p>\n

Social Media, Depression, and Drug Use Among Teenagers<\/h1>\n

One of the most prominent issues with underage social media use is that it can trigger or worsen depression. Over 27 % of adolescents who spend three or more hours per day on social media display signs of poor mental health.<\/p>\n

The false images that teenagers see could trick them to believe that their daily experiences are unworthy and boring. Feelings of depression could follow. Teenagers may seek asylum in the substances they have already seen and accepted. They are more likely to try to suppress their negative feelings, as they no longer perceive them as normal.<\/p>\n