Suicide rates among U.S. girls aged 10 to 14 have surged to match those of boys, with social media and pandemic-related factors cited as key drivers, according to a JAMA Pediatrics study and expert analysis.
The suicide rate for 10- to 14-year-old girls in the U.S. has risen sharply, narrowing a long-standing gender gap in youth suicide rates, a trend linked to social media use and pandemic-related disruptions, according to a JAMA Pediatrics study and expert analysis. By 2024, the suicide rates for boys and girls in this age group were nearly equal, with boys’ rates only 4% higher than girls’, according to data from the LiveNOW from FOX article. This marks a dramatic shift from 2017, when boys in this age group had nearly twice the suicide rate of girls.
Rising Rates and Shifting Trends
Experts attribute the rise in girls’ suicide rates to a combination of factors, including increased social media use, pandemic-related isolation, and heightened mental health challenges. The Nypost article highlights that girls’ suicide rates had historically lagged behind boys’ but began to accelerate after 2010, coinciding with the rise of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Social media use is more strongly linked to depression and other mental health issues among girls than it is among boys,
said Dr. Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, who emphasized that popularity has become a number
for young girls, measured by likes and followers rather than traditional social dynamics.
Social Media’s Role in the Crisis
Twenge’s analysis, detailed in the Nypost article, points to social media as a “perfect storm” for girls aged 10 to 14, who are particularly vulnerable to pressures tied to physical appearance and online validation. She cited Meta’s internal research, which found that girls experience a “grief spiral” from constant exposure to “perfect” bodies and lifestyles on social media. For girls, those likes are often based on sexualized appearance, which is a lot of pressure,
Twenge said. In contrast, male social comparisons tend to be “agentic,” centered on achievable actions such as working out, getting a job, or making money, she explained.
The Nypost article also noted that the pandemic exacerbated these trends, as lockdowns increased screen time and reduced in-person interactions. Twenge argued that the “grief spiral” intensified during this period, with girls spending a lot more time online and a lot less time with friends in person, and a lot less time sleeping.
She called for stricter age limits on social media, citing the 13-year-old minimum as a 1998 compromise with tech companies that hasn’t been updated since.
Broader Context and Unanswered Questions
While social media is a central focus, the National Review article raises broader concerns about societal changes affecting youth mental health. It cites factors such as family discord and disintegration,
the collapse of faith,
and the push in our schools to sexualize children
as potential contributors. The outlet also criticized what it described as hysteria about the role of women in society,
referencing the Lindsay Clancy case as an example of “adult desires” potentially undermining children’s well-being.
The findings underscore the urgency of rethinking suicide prevention strategies for preadolescents. The National Review urged policymakers to equally consider risk factors applicable to both boys and girls,
while the LiveNOW from FOX article highlighted the 988 Suicide & Crisis Line as a resource for those in distress. As the gender gap in youth suicide rates closes, the conversation shifts from understanding why girls are catching up to addressing the systemic and societal factors that may be driving the trend.
