Will banning social media sharpen children’s minds? Will diseases disappear?

Social media seriously affects children’s mental health. As a result, many types of problems can arise. This is why Australia recently banned social media for children under 16. This is the first time in the world that a country has taken such a measure. After which, its discussion started all over the world.

Some see the ban as necessary for children’s mental health, while others criticize it. They believe that this step can suppress children’s creativity. In such a situation, do we know how important and dangerous social networks are for children…

According to a report published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2021, children who spend more than three hours on social media every day have more problems with stress and depression. Not only that, but it can also lower their confidence. The report from the UK’s Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) also shows that social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are increasing body image insecurity, particularly among young girls. In such a situation, banning social media may be better for children’s mental health.

The social media habit is like an addiction. Often children stay up late into the night watching this. It affects their sleep. The blue light emitted by the screen stops the production of melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, it is very important for teenagers to sleep 8 to 10 hours a day, but due to phone use late into the night, many children are not able to do so. In such a situation, children can benefit from a healthy routine by banning social media.

Experts believe that staying on social media for a long time can slow down the lifestyle. Children who spend more time on reels and phones confine themselves indoors, reducing their physical activities. According to the WHO, children aged 5 to 17 should get one hour of physical activity per day. Social media also affects children’s social relationships.