Internet use is now widespread among children and adolescents, with most youth accessing the internet daily—primarily via smartphones. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are especially popular, with 89% of U.S. teens reporting smartphone access and high engagement with these apps. While digital technologies offer instant access to entertainment and social connection, the specific impact of various patterns of screen media use on developing youth is less understood.
In 2019, the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 introduced a new section on “disorders due to addictive behaviors,” including gambling and gaming disorders with online specifiers. These conditions are defined by impaired behavioral control, prioritization of the behavior, and continued engagement despite negative consequences. Similar issues are emerging with problematic social media use, particularly among adolescents, prompting the proposed diagnosis of “other specified disorders due to addictive behaviors.”
Research shows that youth shift internet use as they age—those under 12 often engage in video-centric platforms, while older teens use more communication-based platforms such as direct messaging. TikTok and Instagram incorporate both, contributing to high levels of engagement and, in some cases, problematic or addictive use. Vulnerable groups—such as youth with internalizing or externalizing disorders, non-majority identities, and gender-based differences in social media use—may be at higher risk for harm.
This workshop will focus on technological addictions in youth, especially involving TikTok and Instagram. It will review longitudinal data suggesting directional links between online social activity and addiction concerns. The session will also present screening tools for clinicians and caregivers and offer practical recommendations for supporting youth mental health amid rising concerns about screen media use.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity.
This presentation was recorded at the 2024 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.
Learning Objectives
- To differentiate pros and cons behind youth social media use
- To assess popular trends in social media use, particularly TikTok and Instagram
- To incorporate appropriate screening questions in youth psychiatric interviews regarding social media addiction
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.0 hours
Begin Date: August 1, 2025
End Date: August 1, 2028
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Program Presenters
- Ashvin Sood, MD.
- Marc Potenza, MD, PhD.
Program Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD. Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director, APA.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance