Excessive use of social media can be harmful for young people
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:22 am
28 October, 2017 @ 1:00 amby Miguel Silvain Digital Journalism , Digital Marketing , Social NetworksLeave a comment
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Most young people belonging to Generation Z can no longer imagine living in a world without Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. Almost one in four teenagers admits to being online “almost constantly” and, unsurprisingly, most of that time is spent on social media . However, the effect of this daily practice on the mental health of teenagers is still india email list uncertain and has been the subject of several scientific studies in recent years.
A new study warns, however, that frequent use of social media can actually have a negative impact on a young person's psychological well-being. The research was carried out by Ottawa Public Health , the health information agency of the city of Ottawa ( United States of America ).
The study in question concluded that teenagers who spend more than 2 hours a day on these types of sites are significantly more likely to suffer from mental health problems, such as psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and suicidal behavior.
Does the use of Social Media put our children at risk?
To conduct the analysis, researchers collected data from more than 750 students, ranging in grades from 7th to 12th. Participants were asked to answer questions about their online habits, as well as questions to assess their mental health and psychological well-being. Of these students, about 25% admitted to spending at least 2 hours a day on the websites Twitter, Instagram and Facebook .
Although the survey does not concretely prove that there is a relationship between psychological state and digital activity, the numbers seem to indicate that teenagers who spend more time on social media are those who, in fact, have more psychological problems.
“It is possible that adolescents with mental health issues are seeking out online interactions because they feel isolated and alone,” lead researcher Dr. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga told the U.S. press. “Or they are seeking to fulfill needs that they cannot fulfill face-to-face because of their mental health issues.”
These results are consistent with those from another study in 2012, which found a direct link between social media and depression in high school students. However, this link is not exactly straightforward and easy to explain.
“The relationship between social media and mental health problems is complex, as the simple use of social media alone cannot explain the occurrence of mental health problems,” Sampasa-Kanyinga added.
When faced with this problem, all parents must be especially alert. But contrary to what your first instincts might suggest, you should not simply cut off your teenager's access to social media . This could only worsen their symptoms of depression and anxiety or trigger more aggressive reactions, if necessary. Instead, researchers believe that the solution may actually lie within social media itself .
“We see social media as a problem for some, but also as a solution for others,” said Dr. Brenda K. Wiederhold of the Interactive Media Institute in San Diego in a statement reacting to the study’s findings. “Since teens are already on social media , it becomes a perfect place for public health and service delivery to target the most vulnerable populations and promote support systems for mental health issues.”
Share this article
Most young people belonging to Generation Z can no longer imagine living in a world without Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. Almost one in four teenagers admits to being online “almost constantly” and, unsurprisingly, most of that time is spent on social media . However, the effect of this daily practice on the mental health of teenagers is still india email list uncertain and has been the subject of several scientific studies in recent years.
A new study warns, however, that frequent use of social media can actually have a negative impact on a young person's psychological well-being. The research was carried out by Ottawa Public Health , the health information agency of the city of Ottawa ( United States of America ).
The study in question concluded that teenagers who spend more than 2 hours a day on these types of sites are significantly more likely to suffer from mental health problems, such as psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and suicidal behavior.
Does the use of Social Media put our children at risk?
To conduct the analysis, researchers collected data from more than 750 students, ranging in grades from 7th to 12th. Participants were asked to answer questions about their online habits, as well as questions to assess their mental health and psychological well-being. Of these students, about 25% admitted to spending at least 2 hours a day on the websites Twitter, Instagram and Facebook .
Although the survey does not concretely prove that there is a relationship between psychological state and digital activity, the numbers seem to indicate that teenagers who spend more time on social media are those who, in fact, have more psychological problems.
“It is possible that adolescents with mental health issues are seeking out online interactions because they feel isolated and alone,” lead researcher Dr. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga told the U.S. press. “Or they are seeking to fulfill needs that they cannot fulfill face-to-face because of their mental health issues.”
These results are consistent with those from another study in 2012, which found a direct link between social media and depression in high school students. However, this link is not exactly straightforward and easy to explain.
“The relationship between social media and mental health problems is complex, as the simple use of social media alone cannot explain the occurrence of mental health problems,” Sampasa-Kanyinga added.
When faced with this problem, all parents must be especially alert. But contrary to what your first instincts might suggest, you should not simply cut off your teenager's access to social media . This could only worsen their symptoms of depression and anxiety or trigger more aggressive reactions, if necessary. Instead, researchers believe that the solution may actually lie within social media itself .
“We see social media as a problem for some, but also as a solution for others,” said Dr. Brenda K. Wiederhold of the Interactive Media Institute in San Diego in a statement reacting to the study’s findings. “Since teens are already on social media , it becomes a perfect place for public health and service delivery to target the most vulnerable populations and promote support systems for mental health issues.”