The fact that children use social media is not news. However, what social media does to adolescents is perhaps lesser-known to parents and those around them. Considering social media has not been around for too long, it is not absurd that the effects of social media on children and their development and health are rather foreign.
A common mentioned negative effect of social media usage by adolescents is mental health decline. Heavy usage is associated with hyperactivity, inattention, ODD, anxiety, depression symptoms (Barry et al., 2017). Besides this, the fear of missing out (FoMo) is also suffered by many adolescents, combined with feelings of loneliness. Heavy usage is even connected to deliberate self-harm and suicide in youths (Biernesser et al., 2020). Sleep disturbance and obesity are also connected to adolescent social media usage (Khajeheian et al., 2018). Moreover, research suggests that intense social media use is detrimental to the relationship between father and child, mothers and daughters, yet not between mothers and sons (Sampasa‐Kanyinga et al., 2020). Another risk for children on social media is grooming. In child grooming, an adult (predator) engages with a minor (victim) with the intent to meet in person (Cano et al., 2014). Social media usage by paedophiles is a greater societal concern (Cane et al., 2014). Tunick et al. (2011) also raise ethical concerns, such as psychologists being able to see their client’s online activities, which may cross professional lines as self-disclosure, informed consent and confidentiality are at risk.
On the other hand, social media can also be used to promote health. Informing about diets, exercise, sex, smoking, alcohol and parenting issues (Hamm et al., 2014). Nevertheless, the positive effects of healthy food information are nullified under the constant promotion of fast food by social media influencers (Khajeheian et al., 2018). Beyens et al. (2020) argue that the effects, whether they would be beneficial or detrimental to well-being, are heavily person-specific. Thus, research, prevention and intervention should consider person-specifics.
References:
Barry, C. T., Sidoti, C. L., Briggs, S. M., Reiter, S. R., & Lindsey, R. A. (2017). Adolescent social media use and mental health from adolescent and parent perspectives. Journal of Adolescence, 61, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.08.005
Beyens, I., Pouwels, J. L., van Driel, I. I., Keijsers, L., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2020). The effect of social media on well-being differs from adolescent to adolescent. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67727-7
Biernesser, C., Sewall, C. J., Brent, D., Bear, T., Mair, C., & Trauth, J. (2020). Social media use and deliberate self-harm among youth: A systematized narrative review. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, 105054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105054
Cano, A. E., Fernandez, M., & Alani, H. (2014). Detecting Child Grooming Behaviour Patterns on Social Media. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 412–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13734-6_30
Hamm, M. P., Shulhan, J., Williams, G., Milne, A., Scott, S. D., & Hartling, L. (2014). A systematic review of the use and effectiveness of social media in child health. BMC Pediatrics, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-138
Khajeheian, D., Colabi, A., Ahmad Kharman Shah, N., Bt Wan Mohamed Radzi, C., & Jenatabadi, H. (2018). Effect of Social Media on Child Obesity: Application of Structural Equation Modeling with the Taguchi Method. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(7), 1343. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071343
Sampasa‐Kanyinga, H., Goldfield, G. S., Kingsbury, M., Clayborne, Z., & Colman, I. (2020). Social media use and parent–child relationship: A cross‐sectional study of adolescents. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(3), 793–803. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22293
Tunick, R. A., Mednick, L., & Conroy, C. (2011). A snapshot of child psychologists’ social media activity: Professional and ethical practice implications and recommendations. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(6), 440–447. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025040
Hi Roos! First of all, a very well written post that is well argumented by relevant sources. I really liked reading the blog post as the topic you’re pointing out is something which I have been critically thinking about.
From my own personal experience, I can definitely agree with what you’re stating and what research has suggested. Until this January, I used Instagram and my phone calculated that I spent approximately 1 hour a day on the app (That sounds a lot, but it’s really easy to get there, check your phone ;)). I started to critically think about what’s the point of scrolling on Instagram and seeing everyone having fun with friends or travelling around the world? Especially during the Lockdown, I concluded that this did not make me happier. After watching ‘The social dilemma’ on Netflix, reading several articles about it and getting fed up with all the advertisements, I just deleted it from my phone. Since then, I started to sleep better by reading a book instead of scrolling on Instagram before going to bed. My ‘Fomo’ has decreased which definitely made me feel more calm. Furthermore, I feel that I can concentrate better since.
Instagram wants to make an ‘Instagram Kids’ app. Recently in the news it was shown that they have to pause the development because research from Wall Street Journal has indicated that the use of Instagram is harmful for teenagers (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/27/facebook-pauses-instagram-kids-but-zuckerbergs-kids-use-social-media.html). I’m happy that the development of such apps is being critically assessed. In my opinion, why is it needed for kids to use Instagram in the first place? In our childhood we did not have Ipads and Iphones. Instead, we played with other kids and/or went outside. However, if we want to prevent kids from using the app, where should we start? Instagram correctly states that ‘The reality is that kids are already online’ (https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/pausing-instagram-kids). Should we prevent kids from owning a phone in the first place? How do we do that? Should parents be more informed about the dangers? Should apps like instagram have a more advanced identity/age control?
I really have my concerns about these technological developments. As you are correctly indicating, the long-term effects of social media and phone use in general are not yet researched since it has only been here for approximately a decade. The effects later in the life of adolescents are yet to be found out..