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Social Media and Mental Health

anxiety stress Oct 14, 2021

You may have heard about the whistleblower from Facebook who revealed that the company knew their algorithm was bad for public health, particularly adolescent mental health. Of course, there's much more to this story.

So, what can we learn from all this? And, most importantly, what actions can we take to use social media more mindfully and in healthier ways?

We'll dig into those questions in the video below. Below the video you'll find the resources we noted in the chat along with additional resources to support you.

 

 

Adults and Social Media Use:

Facts About Screen Time for Kids and Teens

ADHD and Media Use

Tips For Parents

A Note About Social Skills...

Kids and teens are experiencing a large part of their social and emotional development online. When kids /teens use digital communication forms consistently, it can negatively effect social skills because they are more likely to miss nonverbal and social cues that occur in offline (in-person) interactions. Interacting with other people online can have benefits for children with social anxiety, but it's different than an “in-person” interaction.

When we communicate electronically we experience the interaction differently because there are less observed nonverbal cues, less noticing of body language, a sense of greater anonymity, and no physical touch involved. (Liberman & Schroeder, 2020). In-person interactions are multisensory experiences that online experiences cannot replicate (even VR). Kids need a balance of these interactions. More on this: https://www.newyorkbehavioralhealth.com/the-impact-of-social-media-use-on-social-skills/ 

 


Sources

  1. Gabrielli, J., Marsch, L., & Tanski, S. (2018). TECH parenting to promote effective media management. Pediatrics, 142(1).
  2. Kollins, S. H., DeLoss, D. J., Cañadas, E., Lutz, J., Findling, R. L., Keefe, R. S., ... & Faraone, S. V. (2020). A novel digital intervention for actively reducing severity of paediatric ADHD (STARS-ADHD): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Digital Health, 2(4), e168-e178
  3. Lieberman, A., & Schroeder, J. (2020). Two social lives: How differences between online and offline interaction influence social outcomes. Current Opinion in Psychology, 31, 16-21.
  4. Ra, C. K., Cho, J., Stone, M. D., De La Cerda, J., Goldenson, N. I., Moroney, E., ... & Leventhal, A. M. (2018). Association of digital media use with subsequent symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among adolescents. Jama320(3), 255-263.
  5. Soares, P. S. M., de Oliveira, P. D., Wehrmeister, F. C., Menezes, A. M. B., & Gonçalves, H. (2021). Is Screen Time Throughout Adolescence Related to ADHD? Findings from 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Journal of Attention Disorders, 1087054721997555.
  6. Swing, E. L., Gentile, D. A., Anderson, C. A., & Walsh, D. A. (2010). Television and video game exposure and the development of attention problems. Pediatrics126(2), 214-221.
  7. Qiu, N., Ma, W., Fan, X., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Yan, Y., ... & Yao, D. (2018). Rapid improvement in visual selective attention related to action video gaming experience. Frontiers in human neuroscience12, 47.

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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. See our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 

 

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