There’s also no question that these numbers have changed dramatically over the past decade or so. This is the same time that smartphones essentially became an extension of people’s bodies. Currently, 95% of teenagers use social media, and two-thirds of them use social media every day. A survey of 8th graders and their 10th graders revealed that the average adolescent spends three and a half hours per day on social media. Her 1 in 7 children spend more than 7 hours with her.
But there teeth Questions about whether the surge in social media use is responsible for the rise in depression and suicide. There are other possible causes as well, such as economic instability and the opioid crisis. These problems started before the pandemic, but the pandemic didn’t help. Reduced stigma around mental health conditions may also explain some of the spike. Children were always depressed. They don’t always talk about it, but the rise in mental health-related emergency visits suggests this isn’t the whole story.
Statistically, some studies have found a significant association between frequent social media use and mental health problems. Other studies, including analyzes focused on the more general category of “digital technology,” have found that the correlation between mental health problems and spending too much time online is similar to that of mental health problems and benign activities such as It turns out that the association is just as strong. eating potatoes. ” Others are still discovering positive The impact of social media use, particularly among LGBTQ+ children and members of other marginalized communities, is that they often experience more diversity and acceptance online than at home. Sometimes different groups of scientists analyze the same set of numbers and come to opposite conclusions.
For the average child, it is not the use of social media itself that is most harmful, but rather the amount of time it takes away from time that could be spent on activities that science clearly shows are beneficial for mental health, such as exercise and physical activity. There is also the possibility of how it is swallowed. , the important thing is sleep.
Most meaningful associations that researchers find are simply correlations anyway. It is difficult to determine cause and effect. Technology companies keep the information necessary to reach such conclusions secret, in part due to legitimate privacy concerns. A new regulatory regime in the European Union could improve the situation, but U.S. lawmakers can also force transparency for research purposes. Even better, they can help fund this important work.
The good news is that the inconsistencies and inconsistencies in the researchers’ analyzes suggest that we need to look deeper. The American Psychological Association’s declaration that “social media use is neither inherently beneficial nor harmful to young people” has somehow become a talking point for both companies eager to continue business as usual and their most vocal critics. ing. However, it is also important to determine under what circumstances this will happen. Harmful.
Under what circumstances and which populations are most at risk? What types of social media use heighten the threat? Is this simply about time spent online, or is it about how we use that time: endless scrolling on the one hand and more active engagement on the other?
From recommendation algorithms that steer users toward even more extreme versions of what they’re already consuming, to “like” counters that cater to children’s desire for social rewards without truly satisfying them, they encourage the worst types of use. What features are trending?
What types of content cause the same problems, for example, content related to eating disorders or self-harm mechanisms?
The results of a robust study could help platforms come up with interventions that target the most dangerous aspects of a product. Or Congress could help craft legislation that focuses, for example, on how platform design can encourage action. Perhaps algorithmic recommendations for children will be limited. Perhaps infinite scrolling should actually end. Or at least prompt the user to leave or look at something else. Perhaps you should be encouraged to go to bed at bedtime. (Some apps are already experimenting with such features.)
Additional insights can help parents set rules for their children and understand what warning signs to look out for.
Whatever the solution the numbers suggest, it is unlikely to be the blatant measures that some states are considering and even passing legislation today. Look at Utah’s restrictions on children under 18 using social networks without legal guardian consent or Montana’s outright ban on TikTok.
The Surgeon General is right that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that social media is “sufficiently safe” for the tens of millions of children who spend their days on these sites. But so far, the country also lacks evidence to conclude whether and how it is harming them. For now, the best treatment plan is to get these answers, and in the meantime, parents should use common sense and ensure their children get exercise, sleep, and screen-free engagement from time to time. That’s it.