03 Sep Social Media, You and Your Child
SOCIAL MEDIA AND REALITY TELEVISION IS CORRELATED IF NOT CAUSATIVE OF:
- Increased stress and decreased self-esteem.
- Increased isolation, poor social skills and a distorted sense of reality.
- Increased addiction to devices and decreased physical activity.
- Correlated with brain fog and decreased brain activity in key areas.
- Decreased focus and concentration.
- Decreased reading and studying time.
- Kids who are used to a quick fix may also find shortcuts to avoid doing schoolwork and certainly read less.
- Information overload causes a paralysis to engage in meaningful activities and relationiships.
BOTTOM LINE:
- Social media is inherently addictive due to the dopamine-based reward of getting “likes,” followers, and attention from “friends.”
- Social media can be isolating, which results in a lack of meaningful connections to real people in real interactions; therefore, social functioning declines.
- The need for internal validation is decreasing and the need for external validation becomes more paramount.
- Teens’ impressionistic minds are influenced by influencers who are dictating how they should look, act, and dress.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Limit noneducational screen time to 1 hour per day weekdays and 3 hours per day on weekends.
- Look for entertaining but educational content.
- Use parental controls.
- Parent overuse of cell phones will model child overuse of cell phones.
- It is important to discuss how smartphones can be used for learning and staying in touch with family.
- Discuss how it is important to engage in physical activities and in-person interactions.
- Designate tech-free times, especially dinner and one hour before bedtime.
REFERENCES:
- Social Media, Reality Television, and Influencer Culture, by Janine Oliver, Ph.D. (PESI)
- How Teachers and Parents can Guide Healthy Smartphone Habits, by Janelle Cox, graduateprogram.org