Berks Catholic students help shape Pa. report on social media and mental health

The Pennsylvania Attorney General just released a report on how social media affects student mental health. It’s called “teenTALK” and encompasses roundtable discussions with 160 students from 35 schools across Pennsylvania during this past school year. Major concerns from these students included addiction, comparison culture, pressure to present a perfect image, harmful or divisive content and overreliance on AI chatbots. In the state capitol this week, some of the students surveyed in the report from Berks Catholic High School spoke about how social media can be a positive but can also present issues. “I think overall, being able to experience going to the teenTALKs and being able to collaborate with other students in my area and to hear so many of the thoughts I had myself put into words and being able to explain that to someone in a position of power was very helpful,” said Berks Catholic High School student Rosalie Perlman. The AG says there should be better moderation of social media and is calling on social media companies, schools, families and government to step in.

BERKS COUNTY, Pa. —

The Pennsylvania Attorney General just released a report on how social media affects student mental health.

It’s called “teenTALK” and encompasses roundtable discussions with 160 students from 35 schools across Pennsylvania during this past school year.

Major concerns from these students included addiction, comparison culture, pressure to present a perfect image, harmful or divisive content and overreliance on AI chatbots.

In the state capitol this week, some of the students surveyed in the report from Berks Catholic High School spoke about how social media can be a positive but can also present issues.

“I think overall, being able to experience going to the teenTALKs and being able to collaborate with other students in my area and to hear so many of the thoughts I had myself put into words and being able to explain that to someone in a position of power was very helpful,” said Berks Catholic High School student Rosalie Perlman.

The AG says there should be better moderation of social media and is calling on social media companies, schools, families and government to step in.