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Hopelab & Well Being Trust 78 Conclusion The survey results presented in this report address two related but distinct issues: First, how teens and young adults say they're using digital health information and tools, and second, the association between reported social media use and mental well-being – including depression – among this age group. The findings make one thing abundantly clear: The digital health revolution has arrived for this generation of young people. Technology and the internet have transformed how teens and young adults search for information, share stories and experiences, and connect to one another about health. Large numbers of young people are turning to online sources for information on health issues, using health-related mobile apps, posting their health experiences online, and looking for others who have the same health concerns they do. Now we need to ask ourselves whether the rest of us are doing our part to help meet their needs. For example, how effectively are we reaching young people with digital health resources? The majority of young people who have gone online for health information, used mobile health apps, or connected to peers online consider those experiences at least "somewhat" helpful. But with vast gaps in our knowledge of whether and which digital health tools are efficacious, and with just 20-30% of our sample's users saying these resources were "very" helpful, there is a need for better resources and better evaluation. The survey also reveals young people's tremendous interest in and exposure to other people's health experiences. This may well be the generation that revolutionizes the peer-to-peer health experience. Technology has afforded them the tools to seek out people who may be halfway around the world who are facing similar health challenges; to connect with and exchange information with them; to listen to those people's personal experiences and to share their own. How might we help people navigate this new landscape? We hope that the insights and data concerning young people who are coping with depressive symptoms will be especially useful. These teens and young adults report that they are actively seeking help with maintaining their mental well-being. Large proportions of young people are searching online for information and trying to connect with peers about depression, stress, and anxiety. And those who have moderate to depressive symptoms say they are doing so in even larger numbers.

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