The Compare and Despair Phenomenon - Social Media and Young people: A Digital Delight or Disaster? Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

The Compare and Despair Phenomenon - Social Media and Young people: A Digital Delight or Disaster?

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

In 2017, the Royal Society for Public Health published a study that that labelled Instagram “the worst social media network for mental health and well-being.” The study reported that the platform prompts a “compare and despair” feeling among young users, one that negatively affects their emotional health. It took a while, but Instagram started to address the problem this year by removing the public display of “like” counts in several countries. 

What impact does social media have on young people?

Are social media companies becoming more responsible? 

What advice should schools offer their communities around Social Media?

About Michael

Michael works in private practice at Corporate and Personal Consulting in Melbourne. In 2015, Michael developed the Certificate of Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing with a team of experts. Delivered as a partnership between the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre and Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, the world-first certificate focuses on how technology can be harnessed to provide best practice mental health and wellbeing care in the youth sector.

He sits on the Board of the Australian Psychological Society, The Family Peace Foundation, Project Rockit and Smiling Mind; is a Community Ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Playgroup Victoria; is a member of the APS committee for the Special Interest group in ePsychology; a columnist for a number of publications including the Huffington Post, Girlfriend Magazine; and is the resident parenting expert on Ch 7's Sunrise and psychologist for the top rating Morning Show with Neil Mitchell on Fairfax Radio 3AW.