More teenagers these days perceive themselves as flawed and have a negative outlook on life. If recent studies are to be believed, smartphones and social media are to blame for the mental health decline among the youth.
Just in February 2023, Chief Science Officer Mitch Prinstein of the American Psychological Association discussed with a US Senate committee the potential harm of social media for kids, such as the risk of addiction, exposure to harmful content, and the impact on neural development. He called social media as “empty calories of social interaction.”
Recent studies also have the numbers to support the trends observed in the decline of teen mental health. Around 2010, there were about 4 percent of surveyed British teens who saw themselves as unlikable, but that percentage has reportedly doubled since then.
In France, there has been a fourfold increase in the rates of depression among individuals aged 15 to 24 over the course of the last decade. About one in five of the Filipino youth have thought about committing suicide, according to a 2021 survey by the University of the Philippines Population Institute.
So how exactly do social media and smartphones detrimental to youth mental health? Psychology professor Jean Twenge of the San Diego State University in California has a theory that essential mirrors Prinstein’s sentiments, that the surge in time spent on smartphones and social media leads to worsening mental health. Teens are observed to be at greater risk of self-harm as they spend five hours or more of screen time.
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Concerned parents are advised to educate their kids and encourage them to reduce their time on digital socialization. Consider having them take an extended break from social media or even a permanent disconnect. If they must be on Facebook, Twitter, or Tiktok, parents must limit the hours spent and monitor what activities the kids do on these platforms. Seeking professional help is also an option.
Government regulation may also be necessary to address the risks of social media. In the Philippines, the government has been taking steps to hold social media companies accountable for the spread of disinformation, and prioritize data privacy in schools, among others.