Suicide rates rise among young girls in the United States

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates that suicide has become the second leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 14 in the United States. While suicide rates have historically been higher among males across all age groups, data from 2007 to 2021 shows that suicide rates for girls aged 10 to 19 have surged more dramatically than those for boys.

Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University and author of the report, attributes much of this increase to the rise of social media and smartphones between 2010 and 2019. Twenge notes that social media use is more strongly linked to depression and mental health issues in girls than in boys. The trend was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased screen time and decreased in-person social interaction and sleep.

Twenge highlights that social media has transformed traditional peer pressure by quantifying social standing through metrics like followers and likes. She observes that for girls, these metrics are often tied to sexualized appearance, creating significant psychological pressure.