Researchers from Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry studied young adults aged 18–25, the first generation to grow up with social media as their primary social space. They wanted to understand why some teens develop unhealthy relationships with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, where identity and self-worth are constructed and tested daily.
The study focused on young people showing traits associated with borderline personality patterns—such as intense fear of rejection, unstable relationships, or rapid mood swings—to see if these traits alone explained problematic social media use.
Immature coping strategies, not personality traits, drive excessive use
The key finding: it's not the borderline traits themselves that cause social media problems. Instead, there's a middle step called "immature defence mechanisms"—unconscious psychological strategies we use to manage difficult emotions. When upset or anxious, some teens use projection (blaming others), fantasy (escaping into imaginary scenarios), or acting out (doing something impulsive) rather than facing feelings directly.
For teens with borderline traits, these immature coping strategies fuel problematic social media use. The app becomes a tool for emotion regulation in unhealthy ways: seeking reassurance through likes, posting impulsively when upset, or scrolling endlessly to escape overwhelming feelings.
Singapore's pressures can amplify these patterns
In Singapore's high-pressure environment—with academic competition, parental expectations, and constant social comparison—understanding this pattern matters. Our teens face unique stressors that can intensify emotions, and social media provides an always-available outlet for processing those feelings in potentially unhealthy ways.
A teenager who posts dramatically when upset, obsessively checks for validation, or uses apps primarily to escape rather than process feelings may be showing these immature coping patterns. The important finding: these are learnable skills that can improve with the right support.
Help your teen build healthier emotional responses
- Notice when your teen uses social media to escape or seek reassurance during emotional moments, then gently help them name the feeling underneath.
- Model and practise direct ways to process emotions—talking things through, taking a break, or doing something physical—rather than turning to apps.
- When you see impulsive posting or obsessive checking, respond with curiosity rather than criticism; ask what emotion they're trying to manage.