SOCIAL media has revolutionized the way people communicate, share information and connect with each other. However, as its use has grown exponentially, so have concerns about its potential negative effects on mental health, especially in young people. In response to this, the American Psychological Association (APA) recently issued a health advisory on social media use in adolescence, emphasizing the importance of adult guidance and limit-setting in the use of social media by teenagers.
The advisory’s importance is universal. We live in a time when social media is increasingly becoming a bane than a boon. And it is not just for its massive potential to spread misinformation and disinformation but also for its role in manipulating minds at an impressionable age. In Kashmir, as anywhere else, the parents allow their children unhindered access to social media on their smartphones so that they don’t disturb them or are persuaded to have food. So, in a sense, social media is used as a pacifier in our homes. And as the children add some more years to their life, they are given separate smartphones and the freedom to use it in whatever way possible.
This is why the APA report needs to be taken seriously by parents everywhere including in Kashmir. The report is timely, given the growing evidence of the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health, including depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The advisory aims to provide actionable advice to help parents, teachers, and policymakers navigate this complex issue and reduce the potential psychological harm caused by social media.
The APA report recommends that adolescents should receive adult supervision and limit-setting, with increasing autonomy as they develop digital literacy skills. Parents and other adults should monitor teenagers’ social media feeds, talk to them about social media, encourage them to take breaks from their devices, and train them in social media literacy. This training should begin even before teenagers start using social media platforms.
One significant finding of the report is that exposure to “cyberhate” can lead to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents, particularly those from marginalized groups. Therefore, adolescents should receive training to recognize and critique racist messages online to reduce psychological distress.
The report also highlights the negative impact of using social media for social comparison related to physical appearance. The researchers suggest that adolescents should receive training in social media literacy to develop psychologically-informed competencies and skills that promote safe and meaningful social media use. And this is important if we want to nurture a new generation that is not only healthy in their body but also in their mind.
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