Social media has been a hot topic for several years now with parents, schools, policy makers, tech companies, and others joining the conversation and weighing in about benefits and risks. The impact of social media on children’s developing brains is continually researched and debated.
There are both positive and negative aspects of social media, and new research is always offering more insights. Many of us want simple answers and easy ways to protect our kids online. But it just isn’t that easy. In fact, there are no simple answers or quick protections. It’s actually quite complicated. Let’s explain.
Social media defined
Social media is commonly defined as websites and applications that allow people to create and share content or to communicate through social networking.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that approximately 18% of 8 to 12-year-olds, and 62% of 13 to 18-year-olds use social media daily including Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Discord, and Reddit.
In the general population, media consumption (in all forms) is more than twice what it was 20 years ago.
Social media can have a positive impact on relationships
Social media has a well-documented positive role in teens’ lives and one that supports healthy adolescent development. It provides teens with connection and has been found to decrease loneliness among many young people who find it hard to connect with peers and others in their communities.
Young people form and maintain relationships online that are often close, meaningful, and supportive. Studies have established that the online relationships teens develop can be diverse and allow teens to interact with others with whom they would not otherwise come into contact.
This opportunity is particularly important for youth who are marginalized due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other factors that might separate them from peers.
Social media is also a source of information for teens providing a substantial amount of knowledge, and satisfying their curiosity about the world around us.
Watch out for the 3 D’s – the downsides of social media
Despite the positive value of social media, research consistently demonstrates that the use of smartphones and other technology may also lead to significantly decreased connections with others. This negative outcome happens because of the three D’s:
- Distracted – Our attention is often pulled away from those around us by technology. In fact, one study shows that just the presence of a phone changes social interactions even if that phone isn’t being used. Media multitasking is another way that our attention is diverted from human interaction and tasks at hand.
- Divided – Algorithms are constantly at work monitoring our activity online and feeding us more of what we tend to consume and little else. In other words, algorithms divide us by restricting what we see including limiting diverse perspectives and experiences. Ultimately, algorithms contribute to the us vs. them ideas and attitudes that are now a constant and destructive undercurrent in our society.
- Depressed – Over time, increased distraction and division cuts us off from basic human social needs such as face-to-face reciprocal interaction, a sense of belonging, opportunities for emotion regulation in real time, and physical touch. We also suffer from decreased empathy, increased narcissism, and increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Social media and mental health
Heavy social media use can put anyone at risk of mental health problems. But those most at risk include:
- Individuals already struggling with psychological challenges and vulnerabilities
- Children and teens, due to social immaturity and less developed brains
- People who often use social media to express negative moods
- People who often rely on technology for mood regulation
- People who are exposed to high stress and trauma in their daily lives
- Media multitaskers (those who jump between devices or tasks online)
Technology and neuroscience
Neuroscientists and other experts tell us that social media is not inherently helpful or harmful to youth. It is important to recognize, however, that teens’ presence online both reflects and impacts their lives offline.
Ultimately, it’s the interaction of multiple factors that determines how each individual is impacted by social media and technology in general. The four factors among the most important for any individual are:
- Personal and psychological characteristics
- Social circumstances
- Specific online content
- The features and functions of social media that are used.
Finding balance
Healthy limits are important. We all need to get a good night’s sleep, and inadequate sleep is associated with depression and anxiety. So, putting screens away at least an hour before sleep, ideally outside the bedroom, is crucial.
Making time for off-line activities is also important. Spending time with others, going outside, and engaging in purposeful activity helps us stay mentally healthy and thriving.
Quality versus quantity
The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that the quality of screen time activities is more important than quantity. Parents can support kids in identifying which online activities are higher quality and which are not.
These decisions and the critical thinking skills involved in making them is an important part of developing digital literacy skills.
The bottom line on social media
Research findings have different implications for different people. When looking at research outcomes, we need to consider how these findings apply to a specific individual in the context of personal strengths and vulnerabilities, social factors, and specific social media and other online platforms used.
Carl Marci, MD, Chief Psychiatrist and Managing Director of the Mental Health and Neuroscience Specialty Area at Massachusetts General Hospital states, “We need to collectively make it a common expectation that education and training in digital literacy are key to healthy living and achieving tech-life balance.”
Social media is not all good or all bad, and recommended use is not the same for everyone. It’s complicated, but we can help our teens develop a healthy relationship to social media through education and awareness.
If your pre-teen or teen is experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, or lack of sleep, request an appointment with WWMG Family Medicine or our Psychology team. We’re here to help.
Article by Lisa Adriance, PhD @ WWMG Psychology