Digital Impact on Youth

Mental health issues have surged among those born after 1996, largely due to the rapid evolution of technology and social media. While the 1990s offered a hopeful view of the Internet as a tool for connection and empowerment, by the early 2010s, the landscape shifted dramatically. With the rise of smartphones and platforms like Instagram, young people found themselves increasingly isolated, as their socialization became dominated by algorithms and online interactions, fundamentally altering the experience of puberty and development.