Devdiscourse
According to a Cornell-led psychology study, teens' faith in the news they read on social media -- or lack thereof -- may be key to whether it supports or detracts from their well-being. Surveying nearly 170 adolescents and young adults from the US and the U.K. early in the pandemic, the researchers found that those more trusting of the COVID-19 information they saw on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok were more likely to feel it was empowering, while those less trusting were more likely to find it stressful.

The findings highlight the need for news literacy programs to help young people discern fact-based, trustworthy sources from misinformation and conspiracy theories, and support a more nuanced understanding of how social media use impacts well-being and mental health. MORE