Face the Feed: Social Media, Mental Health and Young Athletes

A mistake on the field can become a story online before the final whistle. For young athletes, social media means the scoreboard never really disappears. In Episode 5 of The Pressure Lab, Keith Wilford sits down with Dr. Megan Walls, pediatric psychologist at Nemours Children's Hospital, to talk about what social media is doing to teen athletes and their mental health: their confidence, their identity, and their sense of self-worth when the noise never stops. They get into why one negative comment can erase ten positive ones, how constant comparison quietly convinces even successful young athletes that they're falling behind, and why online bullying hits differently than anything that happened on a sideline. It follows you into your bedroom. It's there when you wake up. There's no leaving it at the field. Dr. Walls breaks down what actually helps: learning to ask whether what you're consuming is building you or breaking you, understanding whose voice deserves space in your head, finding trusted adults who can hold what a comment section never can, and building real-life connections strong enough to anchor you when the feed gets loud. If you're a teen athlete, a parent of a young athlete, or a coach working with youth sports, this episode is for you. Topics covered: Social media and athlete mental health Why negative comments stick longer than positive ones Online bullying and youth athletes Self-esteem and identity in youth sports How comparison affects athletic confidence Building mental fitness in the digital age Sports psychology tools for teen athletes How parents and coaches can help young athletes navigate social media Guest: Dr. Megan Walls, Pediatric Psychologist, Nemours Children's Hospital Host: Keith Wilford Subscribe to The Pressure Lab on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes every week.