WASHINGTON, D.C. — Social media is fueling a youth mental health crisis on an unprecedented scale, according to a new white paper titled “The Viral Injury Epidemic.” The report lays bare the devastating consequences of platform dependency and algorithmic exposure, revealing that over half of adolescents now experience anxiety and depression directly linked to their online activity.

The study, which pulls from CDC data and ER records, warns that the consequences of social media are no longer confined to the digital world but are being measured in hospital admissions and self-inflicted injuries.

Alarming Data on Anxiety, Self-Harm, and Isolation

The research details a rapid deterioration in adolescent well-being between 2019 and 2025:

58% of adolescents now report anxiety, depression,

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