Social Media & Mental Health

 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Yesterday on The PediaBlog, we heard U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D. call on parents to help their kids cope with “the crisis of our time,” children’s declining mental health:

“The most important thing that you can do for your child during turbulence is to make sure that they know you love them and that they can talk to you,” he said. “For them just to know it’s OK for them to talk to you, it’s not something to be ashamed of, and there are people they can go to for help … can go a long way to helping a child feel that they’re not alone.”

 

According to a new survey conducted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, half of parents who were asked pointed to social media as a major reason for the mental health crisis in children:

Concerns continue to grow about the impact social media use has on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. According to a new national survey […], half (50%) of parents of children younger than 18 feel their child(ren)’s mental health has suffered during the past 12 months because of social media use.

 

We considered the negative impact social media can have on young people back in February when we asked, “Is 13 Too Young For Social Media?”

A growing body of research has been measuring the impact of  internet and social media usage on teen health and mental well-being. Cyberbullying, child predators, and age-inappropriate content are some of the pitfalls of social media use that can impact a young person’s self-image and mental health. Social media has been shown to interfere with sleep and promote a sedentary lifestyle and obesity, which can have adverse health impacts lasting into adulthood.

 

Aside from the cons, social media has its pros, doesn’t it?

[Dr. Ariana Hoet, clinical director of On Our Sleeves and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital] says not all social media is bad. It can help in building a sense of community, relationships and self-understanding. Yet, during the past year, the survey shows the number of Americans who say children’s use of social media has a positive influence on their mental health has fallen to just over one-third (35%), a drop from 43% in 2022. In an increasingly digital world, it’s important for parents and caregivers to understand the pros and cons of social media use and work to maintain open communication about what children are experiencing online.

“Be curious about what your child is doing on social media. Taking an active role in their social media engagement, instead of simply limiting their exposure, can help them feel comfortable to ask questions, report concerns and seek help when they need it,” Dr. Hoet said.

 

Despite their concern, the survey also found that parents have become increasingly reluctant to talk about social media and their kids’ mental health:

Unfortunately, fewer parents say they’re comfortable having conversations with their kids about mental health, a drop of 5 percentage points from 91% in 2022 to 86% in 2023. To facilitate these conversations, consistent and open communication is essential.

 

Experts advise parents to find the balance between letting kids explore while at the same time monitoring their use of social media by:

• Asking kids to show you their favorite video, channel, or online influencer and following up with open-ended questions so you listen more than you speak.

• Developing a family social media plan to minimize conflict, support good choices, and address misuse.

• Talking to your kids about how to seek help from a trusted adult if they feel like something unsafe is happening and discussing which parental controls and settings will be in place for social media use […]

 

Find more information and resources to have those conversations with kids from the On Our Sleeves Movement for children’s mental health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital here.

 

(Google Images)

 

source https://www.thepediablog.com/2023/05/16/social-media-mental-health/