released a report<\/a> highlighting what he learned.<\/p>\nA pervasive topic<\/p>\n
In the report, Sunday wrote that social media \u2014 as well as the quickly emerging world of artificial intelligence \u2014 is something that surrounds today\u2019s students.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor today\u2019s students, the digital world is not separate from real life \u2014 it is where much of life happens,\u201d he wrote. \u201cFrom social media to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, these spaces are shaping how young people think, communicate and form relationships.<\/p>\n
![\"State](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TMC-Z-AGSunday0318.jpg\")
State Attorney General Dave Sunday has released a report about the impact of social media on teens that followed discussions he held with students, including some at the Berks County Intermediate Unit in March. (BILL UHRICH\/READING EAGLE)<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile these tools offer benefits, they also introduce new and evolving challenges that can affect students\u2019 well-being. Understanding these impacts has become an urgent need for schools and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report cites a Pew Research Center study that showed 95% of people between the ages of 13 and 17 report using at least one social media platform, with 46% saying that are online \u201calmost constantly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report also cites a U.S. Surgeon General Advisory report from 2023 that found that adolescents spend an average of more than three hours per day on social media, not including time spent on other digital media.<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence is also a growing presence in the lives of teens, the report says. It said that recent research indicated 46% of youths in the U.S. use AI at least once a week. And 10% reported using AI for help with addressing mental health concerns.<\/p>\n
Sunday wrote that, as a father, he has thought a lot about raising kids in that kind of digital environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no question that social media can create pressure \u2014 pressure to measure up, to always be \u2018on\u2019 and to present a version of life that isn\u2019t always real,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAt the same time, too many young people are struggling in silence because mental health is still something we don\u2019t talk about enough. That needs to change.\u201d<\/p>\n
The impact<\/p>\n
While the report does delve into some positive impacts of social media \u2014 including helping teens feel more connected and promoting feelings of belonging \u2014 it focuses mainly on the negative impacts.<\/p>\n
Chiefly among them are impacts on mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough social media does not directly \u2019cause\u2019 depression or anxiety, research consistently identifies significant associations between social media use and poorer mental health outcomes,\u201d it states.<\/p>\n
The Surgeon General Advisory report found that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media have double the risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, the report says.<\/p>\n
And data from the Gallup Familial and Adolescent Health Survey shows a clear correlation between increased daily screen time and higher rates of self-harm, poor body image and diminished well-being, the report states.<\/p>\n
When it comes to AI, the report says studies have shown 37% of teens rely solely on AI for emotional support, forgoing professional services.<\/p>\n
\u201cAI chatbots also tend to validate users\u2019 thoughts and perspectives, even when those perspectives may be harmful or inaccurate, which can increase confidence in one\u2019s own views, reduce openness to others and discourage conflict resolution,\u201d the report warns. \u201cThis dynamic, combined with the lack of typical \u2018social friction\u2019 found in human relationships, may limit opportunities for teens to develop empathy, perspective taking and interpersonal skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
What the students said<\/p>\n
According to the report, students who participated in the Teen Talk discussions consistently said social media is their primary means of communications with other teens.<\/p>\n
They also acknowledged those platforms are addictive but said opting out of them would lead to isolation or loss of social standing.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents described how extensive use can distract from academic and personal priorities,\u201d the report states. \u201cThey also recognized the stress associated with overuse, including a growing reliance on AI chatbots for advice and, in some cases, companionship.\u201d<\/p>\n
The students reported that social media also creates a constant pressure to \u201cmeasure up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMany described an exhausting awareness of how they compare to their peers \u2014 not just in appearance, but in what they own, where they go and how they spend their time,\u201d the report states. \u201cThey spoke about scrolling through highly curated snapshots of others\u2019 lives and feeling pressure to present an equally polished version of their own. This included using filters, editing photos and carefully selecting content to project an image that aligns with perceived social expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students said that even when they know posts are unrealistic or staged, they still feel pressure to compare their own lives with the online content.<\/p>\n
Another concern raised by students, according to the report, is the nature and quality of information found on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany noted that posts designed to provoke strong reactions \u2014 particularly around social or political issues \u2014 tend to gain the most attention, even when the information is misleading or incomplete,\u201d the report states. \u201cThey expressed frustration that peers frequently adopt trending narratives without verifying sources or considering multiple perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite students being aware of the negative side of social media, most said they feel deeply entrenched in them and expressed hesitation at changing their own usage habits, the report said.<\/p>\n
Recommendations<\/p>\n
The report includes an extensive list of recommendations for social media companies, government, schools, teens and parents.<\/p>\n
Some of those recommendations include:<\/p>\n
For social media companies<\/p>\n
\u2022 Strengthening content moderation to better detect and remove harmful, graphic or inappropriate material.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Improve algorithms to reduce exposure to harmful content and limit \u201crabbit hole\u201d effects \u2014 the algorithmic tendency to recommend increasingly extreme material that makes user disengagement difficult.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Limit or remove algorithm-driven recommendations for users under 18, prioritizing content from accounts they intentionally follow or choose to engage with.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Implement stronger age verification systems to ensure platforms are developmentally appropriate.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Increase parental controls, including approval for app downloads and clearer oversight tools.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Default accounts for minors to the highest safety and privacy settings.<\/p>\n
For government<\/p>\n
\u2022 Establish and enforce stronger regulations for social media companies, particularly regarding advertising content and targeting youth audiences.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Require meaningful age verification standards across platforms.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hold companies accountable for harmful design features and inadequate protections.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fund and expand access to youth mental health resources, including digital interventions.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Support public awareness campaigns to educate families about online risks, including AI and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Require greater transparency from companies regarding how algorithms function and how content is recommended to minors.<\/p>\n
For schools<\/p>\n
\u2022 Introduce digital safety education prior to middle school.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Provide regular, engaging assemblies or presentations with real-world relevance, potentially\u00a0having older students speak with younger students.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Educate students on how to identify credible sources of news and information.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Increase awareness of available mental health supports.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities to encourage in-person interaction and prosocial behavior.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Provide training for educators, staff, and students to recognize and respond to signs of mental health concerns.<\/p>\n
For teens<\/p>\n
\u2022 Prioritize in-person connections and real-world activities over constant online engagement.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Support one another by checking in, listening and sharing experiences or advice.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Set personal boundaries around screen time and content consumption.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Seek help when needed and encourage peers to do the same.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Challenge each other about information received through social media to cut down on the spread of misinformation and disinformation.<\/p>\n
For parents<\/p>\n
\u2022 Set clear expectations and boundaries around screen time, content, app usage and interactions with new contacts.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Delay access to smartphones and social media until children are developmentally ready.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Use parental controls and monitoring tools to stay informed about online activity.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Maintain open, ongoing communication about online experiences and challenges.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Model healthy technology habits.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Encourage involvement in offline activities.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Encourage use of internet-connected devices in shared family spaces to reduce late-night use and unsupervised interactions.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Regularly review apps, privacy settings, and platform features together with your child to stay informed about how they are being used.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On a Monday in mid-March, state Attorney General Dave Sunday made his way to Muhlenberg Township. He visited…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":139852,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[349,182,139,28,128,130,129,706],"class_list":["post-213559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-reading","tag-berks-county","tag-local-news","tag-news","tag-pennsylvania","tag-reading-city","tag-reading-city-headlines","tag-reading-city-news","tag-top-stories-reg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}