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SMARTPHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA, �AND KIDS

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FEARS

  • Kids are anxious
    • Feelings of overwhelm
    • Overscheduling
  • Depression is on the rise
  • Cyberbullying
  • Smartphone and social media addiction

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PANICS

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TRUTHS ABOUT TEENS

Smartphone and social media usage are nearly ubiquitous amongst American teens

Mental health (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide rates) are on the rise amongst adolescence

Negative findings pertaining to social media and mental health (particularly self-esteem and body image issues) are more likely in American girls

Sleep deprivation from phones is real and may be the real culprit

Cyberbullying (and offline bullying) is a problem – particularly for girls

Media (all media) influences body image and self-esteem

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WHAT IS GOING ON WITH KIDS?

Who am I?

What am I good at?

What is possible for me?

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DEVELOPMENTAL FACETS �MOVING INTO ADOLESCENCE

  • Movement towards peers (away from family, but not entirely!)
  • Dips in self-esteem
  • Exploration for identity
  • Increased risk-taking behavior
  • Sensitive to rewards

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Building Identity

Social Comparison

Exploration

Self-Presentation

Feedback

Change or Maintain

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NEW SOCIAL LANDSCAPE

  • These activities are now happening online
  • This is not just a shift that mirrors offline activities
  • Expectations from peers
  • Expectations from parents

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KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS

  • Results on the effects of social media on mental health are mixed
    • Some teens report seeking SM when depressed or anxious
  • Problematic use (not frequency) associated with poor mental health outcomes (lower self-esteem + body image, depression, anxiety)
  • Studies on suicide and suicidal thoughts are limited – results are inconclusive thus far (cybervictimization may be a link)
  • Social comparison activities have large impact on self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and anxiety
  • Social media addiction is developing as a construct (problematic use)
  • Expression opportunities may be a positive of social media
  • Smartphone usage can interfere with sleep (major tie to negative outcomes)
  • Cyberbullying is on the rise
    • New social landscape

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Preoccupation

Neglect

Comparison

Mood Fluctuations

“Doom Scroll”

– flow state

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CYBERBULLYING

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PARTNERING WITH KIDS

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WHAT CAN YOU ACTUALLY DO?�THE VEGAN ARGUMENT

  • Reality: You can only control your kid.
  • Feasibility – kids are going to be exposed to tech whether we get it for them or not
  • Teaching safe usage of social media + smartphones
    • EARLY
    • Increased discussion and communication
    • Media literacy linked to positive outcomes in the research
  • Co-viewing
  • Modeling safe use of technology
  • ‘Mandated’ free play – give independence

?

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SAFE USAGE DISCUSSION GUIDE��MEDIA LITERACY

  • Give the kids a voice:

What are their concerns? What are their experiences? What is happening with their friends?

    • Norms of texting and availability
    • Discussion of development and social constraints
  • Digital footprint
  • Misinformation/sourcing
  • Realities of addiction (meta-awareness)
  • Cyberbullying and legalities
  • Sexual content
  • Positives – inspiration, recipes, identity, communication
  • Your own social media use – connections, struggles
  • Establish a safe space – limit demonization of phones and generational labels

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RED FLAGS

  • Drastic change in behavior
    • Eating
    • Personality
    • Patterns
    • Loss of interests
    • Mood
  • Fits arounds screens
  • Sleep Issues

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HELP!

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REFERENCES

Besharat Mann, R. B., & Blumberg, F. (2022). Adolescents and social media: The effects of frequency of use, self-presentation, social comparison, and self esteem on possible self imagery. Acta Psychologica, 228, 103629.

Cunningham, S., Hudson, C. C., & Harkness, K. (2021). Social media and depression symptoms: a meta-analysis. Research on child and adolescent psychopathology, 49(2), 241-253.

Ivie, E. J., Pettitt, A., Moses, L. J., & Allen, N. B. (2020). A meta-analysis of the association between adolescent social media use and depressive symptoms. Journal of affective disorders, 275, 165-174.

Nesi, J., Burke, T. A., Bettis, A. H., Kudinova, A. Y., Thompson, E. C., MacPherson, H. A., ... & Liu, R. T. (2021). Social media use and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review, 87, 102038.

Rideout, V., & Fox, S. (2018). Digital health practices, social media use, and mental well-being among teens and young adults in the US.

Servidio, R., Soraci, P., Griffiths, M. D., Boca, S., & Demetrovics, Z. (2024). Fear of missing out and problematic social media use: A serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 19, 100536.

Shannon, H., Bush, K., Villeneuve, P. J., Hellemans, K. G., & Guimond, S. (2022). Problematic social media use in adolescents and young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR mental health, 9(4), e33450.

Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current opinion in psychology, 44, 58-68.

Vogel, E. A., Rose, J. P., Okdie, B. M., Eckles, K., & Franz, B. (2015). Who compares and despairs? The effect of social comparison orientation on social media use and its outcomes. Personality and individual differences, 86, 249-256.

Yang, C. C., Holden, S. M., & Carter, M. D. (2018). Social media social comparison of ability (but not opinion) predicts lower identity clarity: Identity processing style as a mediator. Journal of youth and adolescence, 47, 2114-2128.

Yang, C. C. (2016). Instagram use, loneliness, and social comparison orientation: Interact and browse on social media, but don't compare. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 19(12), 703-708.

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Q&A