A research conducted by the Newport Academy has shown that adolescent use of social media goes hand in hand with the increase in adolescent depression.
Children who already feel isolated and unhappy are particularly vulnerable.
Additionally, teens seek out online experiences for a sense of escape and connection. But the relief is short-lived. Hence, the constant overstimulation of social networks shifts the nervous system into fight or flight mode. This worsens disorders such as ADHD, adolescent depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and adolescent anxiety. Also, for teens, being addicted to Facebook or other forms of social media is a never-ending addiction cycle.
According to psychologists, constantly focusing on yourself lowers self-esteem.
Therefore, this in turn leads to feelings of depression. Teens tend to frequently confront their peers, both in real life and online. Hence, social media addiction can negatively impact self-esteem.
It’s important to realize that low self-esteem is an underlying cause of many mental-health challenges, including:
Depression
Eating disorders
Self-harming behaviors
Substance abuse.
Talk openly with your teen about social media and the feelings associated with its use.
Set aside screen-free zones, like the dinner table and bedrooms, and make sure everyone (including adults) abides by them.
Be a good role model. Show your teen by example that it’s important to unplug regularly and to find offline activities they enjoy.
Keep tabs on your teen’s social media accounts. For a younger teen, help them set up an account and install all privacy restrictions. For an older teen, know which social media sites they are on, talk with them about what to post and what not to post, and create ground rules.
- Take time to learn about social media—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Educate yourself so you can be proactive in talking to your teen about what’s new (and possibly dangerous) in cyberspace.
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