Are The Kids Alright?

Let’s face it…Instagram is addictive. As adults we feel, perhaps erroneously, that we can exercise self-control and break away as needed. What about adolescents and teenagers? What is the impact of social media on them and how do we help them to navigate this new world we barely understand?

I had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Dr. Simone Lebeuf, a pediatrician who spoke at the College of Family Physicians conference. It was an eye-opener.  

For starters, I was alarmed at the prevalence of social media use. According to the Ontario Student Drug Use Health Survey, 86 % of teens reported using social media daily and 20 % reported five or more hours of use a day. Dr. Lebeuf suggested the following risks of time on social media for young people:

1. More time on social media is associated with increased weight gain.
2. There is a correlation between social media time and rates of depression.
3. Although there have not been studies to this effect, more time on social media anecdotally seems to be associated with low self-esteem.
4. Sleep is impacted by screen time, especially by screen time within two hours of bedtime.
5. There is explicit content that exposes young people not only to sexual content but also risk of sexual exploitation.
6. 15 % of teens report being witness to or victims of cyber bullying.
7. There are many pro-disordered eating messages and sites on line.

Advantages of social media might be connectivity and the finding of affirming groups especially for LGBTQ  teens. Therefore Dr. Lebeuf recommends managed media time, co-viewing with your kids and healthy discussion around content with them. In addition, the use of privacy settings and controls may be an option.

It is a brave new world and, like the old world, everything has good and bad. We can guide our kids to discern and be savvy consumers.

 

Dr. Bhooma Bhayana is a family physician in London and the mother of two young men and proud grandmother of three! She continues to find wonder and enjoyment in family practice despite more than 30 years on the job!