Something Was Wrong - Data Points: How Social Media Impacts Kids’ Mental Health (featuring Dr. Corey Emanuel)
Episode Date: October 16, 2024*Content Warning: anxiety, depression, mental illness, suicidal ideation, suicide, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, sextortion, and predatory internet grooming.Resources: National Alliance ...on Mental Illness: http://www.nami.orgSOSA — Safe from Online Sex Abuse: https://sosatogether.org/ Healthy Children – How to Make a Family Media Plan: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/How-to-Make-a-Family-Media-Use-Plan.aspx Sources:Crushell, D. (2023, March 6). Park: Precise advertiser report - kids. YouTube Advertising Insights & Performance Blog. https://blog.precise.tv/blog/park_precise_advertiser_report_kids Proulx, M. (2023). Tiktok usage plateaus among us gen Z teens. Forrester. : https://bit.ly/4avWrZU Joseph, B. (2022, August). Cyberbullying (for parents) | nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cyberbullying.prt-en.html Chou, H. G., & Edge, N. (2012). “They are happier and having better lives than I am”: The impact of using Facebook on perceptions of others lives. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15 (2), 117-121: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0324Ho, S. S., Lee, E. W., & Liao, Y. (2016). Social network sites, friends, and celebrities: The Roles of Social Comparison and Celebrity Involvement in Adolescents’ Body Image Dissatisfaction. Social Media Society, 2(3), 205630511666421: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2056305116664216 Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). (2023). Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory [Internet]. Washington (DC): US Department of Health and Human Services. What Drives Mental Health and Well-Being Concerns: A Snapshot of the Scientific Evidence. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594764/Yates, J. (2024, January 23). Violence on social media - the online fight for our children’s attention. Youth Endowment Fund: https://youthendowmentfund.org.uk/reports/children-violence-and-vulnerability-2023/ Katella, K. (2024, June 17). How social media affects your teen’s mental health: A parent’s guide. Yale Medicine: https://ym.care/9hg Ivey-Stephenson, A. Z. (2020). Suicidal ideation and behaviors among high school students - youth risk behavior survey, United States, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/su/su6901a6.htm Connect with Dr Corey Emanuel: Dr. Corey Emanuel’s website: http://coreyemanuel.com Dr. Corey Emanuel’s Linktree: http://linktr.ee/coreyemanuel Dr. Corey Emanuel’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/coreyemanuel Dr. Corey Emanuel’s TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/drcoreyemanuel Men Talking Shift: http://www.instagram.com/mentalkingshiftSocials to tag: @coreyemanuel on IG @mentalkingshift on IGFollow Something Was Wrong:Website: somethingwaswrong.com IG: instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast Follow Tiffany Reese:Website: tiffanyreese.me IG: instagram.com/lookieboo business@tiffanyreese.me The SWW theme Song is U Think U, by Glad Rags. The S21 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Hi, friends.
This is Dr. Corey Emanuel, media psychologist, mental health advocate, and founder of Men
Talking Shiv.
The Broken Cycle Media team is excited to offer a new series of educational episodes,
which we're calling Data Points.
These special episodes will include educational information, statistics, and support on different
topics that are important to our community.
Thank you for listening.
While social media can offer many benefits to today's youth, including identity and
self-expression, educational opportunities, and maintaining
relationships with friends and family, there is substantial evidence indicating that it
also poses significant risk to their mental health and well-being.
Currently, the safety of social media for children and adolescents is not conclusively
determined due to insufficient evidence.
Recognizing the increasing research on potential harms, it is crucial to
enhance our understanding of the associated risk and urgently take measures to create safe and
healthy digital environments. Taking this holistic approach is essential to protect the mental health
and well-being of children and adolescents during their critical developmental stages.
A primary concern for parents and guardians regarding pre-teens is the time spent on digital
devices and ensuring their social media experiences are safe.
While most experts agree that introducing a tablet for educational purposes around ages
two or three is generally appropriate, it's important to acknowledge that early adoption
may lead to premature negative consequences.
According to the Park Precise
Advertiser report, YouTube is more popular than TikTok among kids under 12 in the U.S.
However, Forrester reports that TikTok is the most used social media app among kids aged 12 to 17,
with 63% using the app weekly. In both cases, parents and guardians
who want their children to learn using mobile devices
must acknowledge and prepare for the realities
of unsupervised encounters on these and other popular apps.
Similar to adults, youth are vulnerable
to cyberbullying and online predators.
According to kidshealth.org,
children who experience cyberbullying may have difficulty focusing in school, which can impact their academic performance.
Severe, persistent, or frequent cyberbullying can lead to anxiety, depression, and other stress-related conditions in both victims and perpetrators.
In rare instances, some children have attempted or completed suicide as a result.
A recent survey by Snap Inc., the owners of the popular app Snapchat, revealed that two-thirds
of Gen Z have been targeted for online sextortion when a perpetrator threatens to expose sexually
compromising information unless the victim meets certain demands.
The research highlights that 29% of victims were approached on social media platforms,
and 47% of them faced threats to share their intimate images unless demands were met.
Educating kids about online safety, like not sharing personal information and recognizing
signs of cyberbullying, along with using monitoring software, can help protect them. Key signs of cyberbullying include unusual emotional reactions,
declining school performance, hiding devices,
and reluctance to discuss their online experiences.
Another significant mental health concern for parents, guardians, and educators
is the impact of social media on adolescent sleep patterns.
As social media becomes a central part of daily life,
many adolescents find themselves using screens,
especially for social media, late into the night.
According to Yale Medicine, on a typical weekday,
nearly one in three adolescents report staying up
until midnight or later because of their screen use.
Adolescents who stay up late using social media may struggle with attention in class,
experience decreased problem-solving abilities, and exhibit lower academic performance overall.
This can result in missed assignments, lower grades, and increased stress, further compounding
the academic challenges they face.
Furthermore, children with low academic performance frequently
encounter various stigmas that can profoundly affect their mental health.
These stigmas often lead to social exclusion, increased stress, and anxiety
which can further impede their academic progress. Other adolescent mental health
issues often stem from how social media triggers feelings of low self-esteem and
fosters unhealthy comparisons.
Research demonstrates that increased opportunities
for social comparison on social media platforms
are linked to greater body image dissatisfaction
and heightened drive to be thin among adolescents.
For instance, comparing oneself to celebrities
can lead to body image dissatisfaction
and engagement with celebrities, such as following their activities, can contribute to body image dissatisfaction
in youth.
Adolescents, like adults, often experience fear of missing out or FOMO, the anxiety or
insecurity about missing an event or opportunity.
Without a strong sense of self, young people may be particularly vulnerable to FOMO, as they are still in the process of defining their values and building their self-worth.
The potential dangers of being exposed to harmful content are a significant mental health concern for today's youth.
Extreme, inappropriate, and harmful material remains easily accessible to children and adolescents through direct pushes, unwanted
exchanges, and algorithmic designs. Self-harm-related content and risk-taking challenges are pervasive
on social media platforms, posing significant risk, especially for those already facing
mental health issues. According to the Office of the Surgeon General, live depictions of self-harm can normalize
these behaviors, leading to dangerous outcomes like seizures and severe bleeding.
Parents and guardians of teenagers are increasingly concerned about the rising tide of violence
and sadness, questioning the role of social media.
The Youth Endowment Fund found that four in 10 teenagers view social media as a major factor driving violence,
nearly as many as those who blame gangs or drugs.
Teens more involved in violence are even more convinced
that social media is a contributing cause.
Equally concerning is the diminishing enthusiasm
for life among teens,
possibly due to excessive social media use.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
suicide is the second leading cause of death
amongst youth ages 14 to 18 after unintentional injuries.
Frequent exposure to violent content
can desensitize teens to violence,
heightening feelings of fear and insecurity,
fostering sadness and hopelessness.
When social media amplifies negative behaviors, it can overshadow positive role models and
healthy behaviors, leaving teens feeling directionless and unsupported.
It is also worth noting that social media can offer adolescents many benefits which
include social engagement, like keeping in touch with existing friends and classmates,
as well as discovering new connections and networks of mutually shared interests.
It also provides opportunities for creativity and self-expression, civic and community engagement,
and expanded access to information and services, including online therapy.
But overall, the pervasive influence of social media on both pre-teens and teens underscores
the need for parental awareness and intervention to mitigate the negative impacts.
I strongly recommend families and pre-teens and teens have a digital media family plan.
A plan should include establishing clear guidelines such as setting screen time limits, establishing
content boundaries, designating tech-free zones and times,
device-free meals, bedtime rules, and common areas.
Parents should prioritize modeling healthy digital habits,
actively participating in the family plan,
encouraging open communication, creating safety,
and monitoring and adjusting as needed.
By implementing this digital media family plan,
parents and guardians can help ensure a balanced approach to media consumption,
fostering healthier online and offline lives for everyone in the family.
If you suspect your child or teen is facing mental health challenges related to social media use,
it's important to consult a licensed mental health professional for support. Reach out to a mental health expert to discuss your concerns and explore
appropriate interventions. For assistance in finding a qualified professional, you can contact
the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-6264 or visit their website at www.nami.org.
And don't forget for a list of nonprofit organizations
and resources, please visit somethingwaswrong.com
forward slash resources.
I'm Dr. Corey Emanuel, and you can follow me
across social media at Corey Emanuel,
or visit my website at www.coreyemmanuel.com.
Thank you so much for listening and learning with us.
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