According to the Pew Research Center, 69% of parents of children ages 13 to 17 say growing up is harder today than it was in 2004. Meanwhile, 44% of those ages 13 to 17 say the same thing. What they don’t fully agree on is why it’s harder to manage adolescence today than it was in the past. Parents blame social media. But kids blame pressure and high expectations.
The biggest impact of social media is on young people. In his best-selling book “The Anxious Generation,” NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that smartphones and social media have been detrimental to the mental health of adolescents. In his book, Haidt focused on those born after 1995. Haidt’s lead researcher, Zach Rausch, a research associate at the NYU-Stern School of Business, told CNBC Make It that phone use during puberty can be particularly harmful.
The young age group has a lot of influence on social networks
The greatest impact of social media has occurred during puberty. The damage is particularly severe at the onset of puberty, between the ages of 9 and 15. One reason is that online conversations often don’t lead to face-to-face contact. Which is necessary to increase and maintain happiness. Roush says, “We used to use flip phones to connect with each other. So that we could finally be face to face. The online world is the opposite. We join to be there. We say that’s not enough.” Haidt also says that widespread social media use may be changing the chemistry of young people’s brains.
Today, children have to face these problems
“Haidt the Atlantic” Wrote for: “Children going through puberty online are likely to experience higher levels of social comparison, self-consciousness, public embarrassment, and chronic anxiety than adolescents of previous generations.” Which can potentially put the developing brain into a habitual state of defense.
In our epidemic of loneliness and isolation, according to his 2023 report, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy also warned of the dangers of social media.
Many examples of harm include technology replacing personal engagement. Monopolizing our attention. It reduces the quality of our interactions and even lowers our self-esteem. It can lead to greater loneliness, fear of missing out, conflict, and reduced social engagement. According to the Pew Research Center, parents agree with this assessment, with 41% saying it’s harder to be a teenager because of social media, and 26% saying it’s because of technology in general.
Disclaimer: Some information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, you must consult the concerned expert.
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