For some there is little to worry about when assessing the consequences of screen time and social media on users, particularly with respect to young people. Advocates of the positive aspects of social media will often claim that there is a lot of scaremongering against the online world and specifically the social media platforms. According to this view children will cope with the challenges presented by the digital world like previous generations have coped with social challenges such as rock’n’roll, the advent of television and video nasties. These platforms, it is argued, overall offer a positive catalyst for good mental health by helping people to connect and access resources to improve their sense of well-being. However, what is clear is that these platforms offer unknown influences to users from a wider range of peer contacts, including strangers, at an unprecedented level when compared to any previous generation. Assessing harm is not always so easy in such a vast landscape.
Adults generally have knowledge of pre-internet behaviour whereas young people don’t have a baseline behaviour of something other than the internet. It is as if the internet has always been here. Engagement with the internet is not optional for them. The internet and specifically social media engagement satisfies prime drives for survival and affiliation. There have been several reports on the impact of social media and the use of screens on children’s mental and physical health. The Royal Society for Public Health’s 2017 report ‘#StatusofMind’ called for action to promote the positive aspects of social media for young people, whilst mitigating the potential negatives. The potential negatives were listed as increased anxiety & depression, adverse impacts on sleep, heightened concerns about body image, cyberbullying and fear of missing out (FOMO).
The Science and Technology Committee at the House of Commons has been hearing evidence during its inquiry into the impact of social media and screen use on young people’s health. It has been an insightful experience listening to the evidence before the committee. So often in the therapy world I get a sense that claims are presented as fact when in actual fact such claims can be anecdotal at best. Or so-called evidence is old and in need of updating. Take, for example, the negative impact of screen usage. Current screen use guidelines are rather old and are based on evidence compiled by the American Academy of Paediatrics. I am often left wondering what is the updated evidence about harm and if the definitions are accurate, such as whether television is included or if gaming communities are part of social media.
Tackling the negative impact of social media platforms on young people should involve a three pronged approach from government, education (including parents) and what the tech platforms themselves can do to address any adverse consequences from the use of their technology.
A White Paper is due from the Home Office and DCMS which will address some of the concerns about social media platforms. Some are arguing for a statutory code of practice for all social media sites that is flexible, and an independent regulator with real powers to enforce and provide for transparent reporting. Many will be uneasy with the suggestions that some combination of non-profits, government agencies, and/or a digital bill of rights is the best path forward to deal with social media ills. A digital bill of rights might be difficult to work for the same reason that requiring grocers to place the milk at the front of the store isn’t going to work.
The risks associated with technology can be similar to the dangers posed by food and alcohol. Most people will be fine and will have a balanced engagement. But there will be others who will binge and have an unhealthy way of using the devices. Some users will be susceptible to forms of abuse such as cyberbullying and negative body image due to past traumas or low self-esteem. As a therapist I am always seeking to assess the robustness of one’s social support structure, their purpose in life as well as one’s home life. Controlling access to the internet in dysfunctional or disorganised families can be particularly challenging.
The regulated utility industries are required to release data on anything that relates to consumer harm. Could we instruct social media platforms to release data when there is clear evidence of consumer harm? We might also ask them to release anonymised user data to researchers so that patterns of behaviour can be assessed with a view to having better guidelines on how to keep young people safer online. In addition they could be forced to enable age verification processes on their platforms to try to ensure that younger children don’t have access to social media accounts. Age verification for porn sites will be a requirement later this year as part of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (which will at least stop children from stumbling across inappropriate and harmful content). We wouldn’t allow children to go to a public park unsupervised but some are given unsupervised access to smartphones, which is essentially a portal to the outside world with high potential for encountering inappropriate material.
It will be interesting to read the findings from the Science and Technology Committee when they eventually publish their report. However, I believe the more pertinent questions about the impact of social media engagement are why are young people finding it difficult to disengage from social media, why some young people wish to disrespect each other so readily and what is the source of stress in their lives? Learning to live with anxiety and to avoid the attractions of constant stimulation, however, might not be a vote winner.
We are living through seismic social change. Change invariably raises our anxiety levels. As humans we generally like to stick to routine and what is familiar. Learning to adapt to change can be beneficial for the maintenance of our emotional well-being.
The key is to try to help children achieve a balanced level of engagement with technology and to ensure that their activity takes place within a safe environment. Grooming and live streaming are the new threats to child welfare and often the abuse can take place when children are in their own bedrooms. Parents should remain vigilant about the risks presented by social media and gaming. Try to agree terms and conditions with your child around appropriate device time and above all don’t allow devices in their bedroom. Parents should keep lines of communication open with their children as they will need someone, who they can trust, to turn to if they encounter any problems online, or in the real world for that matter. They can learn to say no and to only share information and content that they are comfortable with.
See also
The risks associated with the blue whale game
Social media risks for teenagers