Instagram worst social media app for young people's mental health

by Kara Fox, CNN

Updated 2128 GMT (0528 HKT) May 19, 2017

Researchers at <a href="http://www.bmap.ucla.edu/" target="_blank">UCLA's Brain Mapping Center</a> found that when teenagers' photos get lots of "likes" on social media apps, such as Instagram, their brains respond in a similar way to seeing loved ones or winning money.
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
Researchers at UCLA's Brain Mapping Center found that when teenagers' photos get lots of "likes" on social media apps, such as Instagram, their brains respond in a similar way to seeing loved ones or winning money.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Thirty-two teenagers took part in the experiment, with brain scans showing how their nucleus accumbens -- the part of their brain linked to rewards -- became especially active.
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
Thirty-two teenagers took part in the experiment, with brain scans showing how their nucleus accumbens -- the part of their brain linked to rewards -- became especially active.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Being appreciated on social media, through "likes," was seen in brain scans to activate the reward centers of the brain, pictured.
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
Being appreciated on social media, through "likes," was seen in brain scans to activate the reward centers of the brain, pictured.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Reward circuitry is thought to be particularly sensitive during adolescence, which may partly explain why teenagers are such avid social media users.
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
Reward circuitry is thought to be particularly sensitive during adolescence, which may partly explain why teenagers are such avid social media users.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
The teenagers were shown a bespoke version of Instagram during the experiment where the "likes" they saw weren't given by their peers, but instead assigned by the research team.<br />
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
The teenagers were shown a bespoke version of Instagram during the experiment where the "likes" they saw weren't given by their peers, but instead assigned by the research team.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
The teens were shown "neutral" photos showing things like food and friends, and "risky" photos depicting cigarettes and alcohol, pictured. The study found that teens were more likely to "like" popular photos, regardless of the type of image.
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
The teens were shown "neutral" photos showing things like food and friends, and "risky" photos depicting cigarettes and alcohol, pictured. The study found that teens were more likely to "like" popular photos, regardless of the type of image.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
While social media has the potential to influence teenagers in good ways, it's important for parents to be aware of who their teens are interacting with online, says Lauren Sherman, lead author of the study.
Photos: How social media affects the teenage brain
While social media has the potential to influence teenagers in good ways, it's important for parents to be aware of who their teens are interacting with online, says Lauren Sherman, lead author of the study.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
facebook appteenagers phoneteenagers social media brain scanfacebook phonesocial media teenager study 2social media teenager study 1getty image teens cell phones

Story highlights

  • Young people's mental health was negatively affected by Instagram and Snapchat use
  • The report calls for changes such as "heavy usage pop-up warnings"

(CNN)Instagram is the most detrimental social networking app for young people's mental health, followed closely by Snapchat, according to a new report by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK.

Their study, #StatusofMind, surveyed almost 1,500 young people aged 14 to 24 on how certain social media platforms impact health and well-being issues such as anxiety, depression, self-identity and body image.
    YouTube was found to have the most positive impact, while Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter all demonstrated negative affects overall on young people's mental health.
      Study links social media use to isolation in young adults
      Study links social media use to isolation in young adults
      Instagram -- the image-saturated app with over 700 million users worldwide -- topped the list in terms of negative impact, most notably among young women, stated the report, published Friday.
      Instagram draws young women to "compare themselves against unrealistic, largely curated, filtered and Photoshopped versions of reality," said Matt Keracher, author of the report.
      Read More
      "Instagram easily makes girls and women feel as if their bodies aren't good enough as people add filters and edit their pictures in order for them to look 'perfect,' " an anonymous female respondent said in the report.
      To tackle the problem, the Royal Society for Public Health has called for social media platforms to take action in order to help combat young us