Complete Schedule
Presentation Type
Open Access Poster Presentation
Abstract
Up to 95% of young people aged 13-17 report using a social media platform; this population encompasses over 38 million youths in the U.S. and 2 million youths in Australia. Reports show that this practice has a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of those who have access at a young age. Globally, a primary concern is that youth who have access to social media platforms that are not developmentally appropriate for their age level have issues around declining mental health, socialization, and self-esteem or body image concerns. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to examine the influence social media can have on youth ages 13-17, both in the United States and in Australia. This project offers a first-hand perspective from consumers of these platforms growing up with social media. While previous research has explored aspects of the issue, fewer studies have addressed ways to actively overcome it. Throughout this research, the analysis of data will emphasize the need for more interventive ways to address the impact of social media.
Start Date
14-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
14-4-2026 11:50 AM
Faculty Advisor
Itunu Ilesanmi
Department
Department of Social Work
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Copyright
©2026 Maddie Otto, Alyssa Dieckhoff, Brinley Cleveland, Katie VanDeWoestyne, and Jacey Rugg
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
420 KB
Recommended Citation
Otto, Maddie; Dieckhoff, Alyssa; Cleveland, Brinley; VanDeWoestyne, Katie; and Rugg, Jacey, "Youth Social Media Access: Comparing the U.S. and Australia" (2026). INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference. 74.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/csbsresearchconf/2026/all/74
Youth Social Media Access: Comparing the U.S. and Australia
Up to 95% of young people aged 13-17 report using a social media platform; this population encompasses over 38 million youths in the U.S. and 2 million youths in Australia. Reports show that this practice has a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of those who have access at a young age. Globally, a primary concern is that youth who have access to social media platforms that are not developmentally appropriate for their age level have issues around declining mental health, socialization, and self-esteem or body image concerns. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to examine the influence social media can have on youth ages 13-17, both in the United States and in Australia. This project offers a first-hand perspective from consumers of these platforms growing up with social media. While previous research has explored aspects of the issue, fewer studies have addressed ways to actively overcome it. Throughout this research, the analysis of data will emphasize the need for more interventive ways to address the impact of social media.
