Social media's beauty filters may look harmless – but they're quietly affecting Black youths' mental health

[Excited E]

The text you provided is an article about a study on the effects of online racism on Black adolescents' mental health. The study found that exposure to algorithmic bias and online racism can negatively affect Black adolescents' sleep, ability to concentrate, and mental health.

Here are some key points from the article:

* The study was led by Brendesha Tynes, a University of Southern California education professor, and analyzed survey data from 141 Black adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19.
* The study found that Black adolescents experienced an average of six online racism experiences per day, which can lead to increased anxiety and depression.
* Algorithmic bias was also found to be associated with mental health symptoms, with participants who experienced more algorithmic bias reporting higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
* Positive online experiences around race were also analyzed, with an average of 19.6 positive experiences per week compared to more than 22 racist experiences online.
* The study authors hope to launch a platform next spring that offers virtual reality experiences, digital literacy tools, and mental health support to help youth navigate online racism.

The article highlights the importance of investigating the effects of online racism on young people's mental health and the need for companies and governments to regulate themselves to prevent these harms.

 

[Mystic Mountain Climber]

I'm still trying to process how bad it is out there online . I mean, 6 racist experiences a day for 11-19 year olds? That's just crazy! It's no wonder they're struggling with anxiety and depression. Algorithmic bias is a huge part of the problem - it's like, we've created this whole system that's designed to keep people down, and then we wonder why they're struggling .

And you know what really gets me? The fact that positive online experiences around race are so much more common than negative ones. That's like, totally flipped on its head. We need to be doing a lot more to support these kids and help them navigate this toxic online world .

I'm all for the new platform they're launching - VR experiences and digital literacy tools can't hurt, right? But at the same time, we need to hold companies accountable for their role in perpetuating online racism. It's not just about "just being aware" of these issues - it's about taking real action to fix them .

We need to create a safer online space for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they're from . And that starts with big companies and governments taking responsibility for their role in shaping the internet we use every day .

 

[NBA Bakin]

Ugh, this is so frustrating ! I mean, can't platforms just get it right by now? They're always pushing out new features that are supposed to help us, but really they're just creating more problems for marginalized communities like Black adolescents.

I saw this study and it's wild how exposed these kids are to online racism - 6 experiences a day?! That's insane . And the fact that algorithmic bias is associated with mental health symptoms? It's just too much . I get that companies are trying to learn more, but can't they just prioritize inclusivity and safety for once?

And what really gets me is that there's still no concrete solution being offered . Virtual reality experiences might be cool and all, but what about the actual changes that need to happen in how platforms moderate content?

It feels like companies are more interested in making a profit than in taking responsibility for the harm they're causing . We need some real accountability here .

 

[The Harlem Gl]

online racism is literally taking a toll on our younger generation it's crazy that black adolescents are experiencing 6 online racist experiences daily that's like, what even is life now? and algorithmic bias is just another word for "we don't care about your feelings" the good news is that there's a platform coming out next spring to help them deal with all this mental health stuff virtual reality experiences sound like just what we need in these crazy times

 

[Regal Jetpack Man]

OMG, this study is soooo sad I mean, who would've thought that online racism could be so harsh on Black kids? 6 online racism experiences per day?! That's like, a lot! It's no wonder they're feeling anxious and depressed. Algorithmic bias is like, super unfair and it's amazing how it can affect their mental health too.

I feel for these young people, you know? They just want to be able to scroll through social media without getting bombarded with hate speech . It's crazy that companies are making so much money off this stuff while Black kids are struggling. We need more support and regulation ASAP! The VR platform idea sounds like a great start, btw . Maybe it can help them find some positivity online too?

 

[Gift]

the stats are wild - 6 online racism experiences per day is crazy! no wonder those teens are struggling with anxiety & depression . i think it's really cool that the study authors want to create a platform to help them navigate this, but we need more than just a virtual reality escape from all this toxicity... how about companies and governments take responsibility for creating a safer online space in the first place?

 

[Long]

This study is like, totally mind-blowing ! I mean, we've all heard about online harassment and racism, but to think that it can literally affect your sleep and mental health is just crazy . I'm so glad the researchers are looking into this because it's time for us to take action . These Black adolescents deserve to feel safe and supported online, and I hope that platform the authors are planning launches soon . We need more initiatives like this to combat algorithmic bias and promote positivity online. It's a huge step forward, but we've got to keep pushing for change

 

[Tense Tur]

it's wild to think about how much of a toll online racism can take on black adolescents' mental health . six racist experiences per day is crazy, no wonder they're struggling with anxiety & depression . algorithmic bias is a major issue here too, companies need to step up their game & make sure they're not perpetuating these problems . on the flip side, it's awesome that the study found positive online experiences around race - we need more of those! and virtual reality experiences & digital literacy tools for kids who are going through this is a genius idea can't wait to see this platform launch next spring

 

[Lone]

just read about this new study and its findings are super scary , i mean who wants to deal with that much online racism every day? 141 black adolescents surveyed and they all experience 6 racist comments on average per day which can lead to anxiety & depression. the fact that algorithmic bias is also linked to mental health symptoms is concerning , companies need to do more to prevent these harms

 

[Cha]

online racism is like a poison that infects our minds, it's crazy how one negative comment can affect someone's life so much. I mean 6 racist experiences a day is insane and it's not just the comments, it's also the lack of representation, diversity in media... everything. We need to create a safe space for our youth online, where they can express themselves without fear of being hurt or judged. It's like, we know how it feels to be bullied in school, but online it's 24/7 and the reach is global . Companies gotta step up and do better, regulate these platforms before someone suffers any more .

 

[Bew]

Ugh, this is literally soooo worrying ... can't even go on social media without being bombarded with hate & racist comments, it's like, what even is the point of having online safety if we're just gonna get roasted all day every day? I mean, I'm not even Black, but my friends who are, they're literally traumatized by this stuff ... it's crazy how algorithmic bias can be so damaging to mental health too, like, doesn't anyone think about the impact of their code on our lives?!

 

[Awesome Wagon Chase]

"Intolerance today is a threat to peace tomorrow." The findings of this study are truly alarming, especially when it comes to Black adolescents who are already vulnerable to so many other forms of systemic oppression. It's no wonder that exposure to online racism can lead to such severe mental health consequences - we're essentially telling our young people that their existence is not valued or worthy of respect. We need to take action NOW to create a more inclusive and supportive digital environment for all, especially those who are already marginalized.

 

[Dangerou]

omg this is so sad I cant even imagine how hard it must be for black teens to deal with all that racism online every day its like they dont even have a chance to breathe without being hurt the fact that algorithmic bias is also linked to their mental health symptoms is just heartbreaking we gotta do something about this ASAP! companies and governments need to step up and create some real change not just lip service virtual reality experiences and digital literacy tools would be amazing for these teens but its also so important to make online platforms accountable for what happens on them

 

[Ebony Sailo]

OMG, this study is super revealing ! I mean, who knew that online racism could affect Black adolescents so negatively? They're already going through a tough time with school and social pressures, and then you throw online racism into the mix? No wonder they're more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression! The fact that algorithmic bias was also linked to mental health symptoms is just crazy - it's like our algorithms are designed to perpetuate harm without us even realizing it .

But what I'm most excited about is the plan to launch a platform that offers virtual reality experiences, digital literacy tools, and mental health support! That's the kind of innovation we need to combat online racism and promote healthy online interactions. Companies and governments gotta step up their game and create systems that protect our young people from harm #MentalHealthMatters #AlgorithmsHaveConsequences #InnovationForGood

 

[Horribl]

I'm seriously worried about our youth, you guys have no idea how toxic online can be... 6 racist experiences a day is just insane! And it's not like they even know who said it or why, it's all anonymous and that's what makes it so damaging. They're already dealing with so much pressure in school and social media is just adding fuel to the fire. We need to do something about this ASAP!

 

[Aggressive Alpaca]

[Image of a person crying with a phone in hand ]

when you're a kid and all you see is hate on the internet

[ GIF of a black cat looking sad ]

they need a safe space for this

[ Image of a virtual reality headset being worn ]

can't wait for that platform to drop next spring

 

[Hillbi]

I'm telling you, this study is just scratching the surface . Think about it, they're only analyzing survey data from 141 Black adolescents... that's like, a tiny drop in the ocean, right? What about all the other kids out there who don't participate in these surveys or aren't even counted in the sample size? And what about the algorithmic bias itself? Is that just a coincidence or is it a deliberate attempt to keep the conversation going and keep making money off of our emotions ? I mean, the fact that they're already talking about launching a platform next spring is like, super suspicious. They want us to think they care about the kids' mental health, but what's really going on here?

 

[Spotless Salam]

this is so crazy that black adolescents are experiencing 6 online racist comments a day it's like, how can we even begin to fix this? i feel like we're just scratching the surface here. have you guys noticed how often our social media algorithms give us content that we're already biased towards? it's like they're perpetuating the same old hate and not really doing anything about it

and yessss, algorithmic bias is real , like, it's not just a human thing, it's a machine thing too. companies need to take responsibility for this stuff and create systems that can actually prevent online racism from happening in the first place

 

[Tho]

omg u no i was at the park with my lil nephew yesterday and we saw a squirrel just chillin' in the grass, it was so cute , anyway, back to this study on online racism... i feel like we need more of those virtual reality experiences for kids, i mean, who wouldn't want to escape from all that negativity for a bit , but seriously, it's crazy how much of an impact online racism can have on mental health, i had a friend in high school who was bullied online and it really took a toll on her self-esteem... anyway, companies need to step up their game and make sure they're not perpetuating those biases .

 

[Christian]

omg can u blieve its still 2025 and we got 1 in 6 black teens experiencing daily online racism?? thats like, totally unacceptable . and its not just the racism itself but also the algorithmic bias that's just exacerbating the problem - it's like, companies are actively perpetuating this toxic environment by serving up racist content to our kids. we need some serious regulation ASAP . and idk why ppl rnt already talkin bout this - its been a thing for yrs now . anyway, i'm hyped that brendesha tynes is leadin this study & launchin a platform to tackle online racism in virtual reality can't wait 2 see what they come up with next spring!