The ‘double-edged sword’ of social media in adolescent mental health

Rules for parenting in today’s high-tech world

For many parents today, managing kids’ screen time and technology use can feel like a full-time job. As growing evidence shows a correlation between excessive screen use and mental health issues, families struggle to establish rules and guidelines around technology. If you have been following the growing body of research into technology use is changing childhood, you have likely come across the work of researcher and professor Jean Twenge [https://www.jeantwenge.com/]. In her latest book “10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World [https://www.jeantwenge.com/10-rules-for-raising-kids-in-a-high-tech-world/],” she gives parents concrete advice for how to manage screen time based on her research, as well as from her experience as a parent herself.

The ‘double-edged sword’ of social media in adolescent mental health

Researcher Danny Muñoz Lopez studies the connection between media use and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. While the focus often centers on mental harms from technologies like social media, Lopez notes that social media can also provide connection for young people, especially for those from historically marginalized groups. She also emphasizes the need to include young people in discussions around children and technology. Resources mentioned: Social media test drive https://socialmediatestdrive.org/ [https://socialmediatestdrive.org/] Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship [https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship]

Developing identity in a digital world

Adolescence is a time of enormous social, emotional, and physical change and development. A central part of that development, as kids enter those early teenage years, is developing a self-identity. Clinical psychologist Robert Teel works with patients as young as 12 years old with a focus on digital use disorders. He explains more about this time of life and how identity development is playing out in the digital realm.

Takeaways from large-scale childhood study

To measure the long-lasting impacts screen time use may be having on our kids, major long-running science-based research is needed. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study is looking to help by following the brain development of over ten thousand children over multiple years, tracking many aspects of children's lives, including screens. A psychologist and principal investigator of the ABCD Study in San Diego shares some of the study’s findings on technology use and childhood development. Research: https://abcdstudy.org/ [https://abcdstudy.org/]

How to approach cyberbullying with your kids

Bullying has grown beyond just the schoolyard. As children’s social lives have moved increasingly online in recent years, the problem of cyberbullying has become a top concern for parents. A child psychiatrist shares helpful tips for parents when it comes to the dangers of cyberbullying and sextortion. Child psychiatrist Dr. Willough Jenkins shares helpful tips for parents to approach conversations with their kids about the dangers of cyberbullying and sextortion. Resources: https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it [https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it]