Cold-blooded, warm presence

Can reptiles help with the mental health crisis among young people?

- By MARKUS NYKOS OCTAVIANO CHUA, 17

Studies have shown that the use of social media, especially among the youth, creates a sense of “connected isolation” where curated content fuels feelings of inadequacy, social comparison, and FOMO (fear of missing out).

It often replaces deep, in-person interactions with superficial engagement, ultimately contributing to the rise in adolescent loneliness and depression. Furthermore, a study conducted by the Yale School of Medicine concluded that among teens aged 12 to 15, those who use social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms.

Now that the concern for youth mental health is better established, what can we do to improve this situation?

My name is Markus Chua, and I'm a Filipino high school student currently studying at Hong Kong International School. A few years ago, I started Happy Reptiles—a social media community where I share one simple idea: Reptiles can actually help improve mental health.

For the past four years, I've been championing reptiles as therapeutic companions, especially in busy, urban places like Manila and Hong Kong. My mission is pretty straightforward—to show people that reptiles, often misunderstood or even feared, can help reduce stress, bring calm, and ease feelings of loneliness.