Meta will be forced to pay out $17 billion as part of a social media addiction case in the courts. How does social media impact the mental health of young people, especially children? Dr. Michelle Moore is Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU Health New Orleans and serves as section chief for Psychology. She notes that dealing with social media addiction can be a tough road for parents to navigate.
Dr. Moore does stress that there are pros and cons when it comes to kids using social media. “There are definitely some positives to social media in terms of connecting people who may feel isolated or lonely. It can help users connect with others or feel like they’re part of a community … depending on how they’re utilizing it,” emphasizes Dr. Moore. On the flip side, she says many young users (especially teens) are using social media to compare themselves to others in negative ways or overthink online interactions (or the lack thereof). That can cause anxiety and mental health issues in the still-developing brains of young people.
She highlights the need for guidance and oversight on parents’ end to help young people navigate how and when to use social media. However, she does understand that many young people (especially teens) will find it hard to believe what the parents are saying when it comes to cutting social media use. She says more involvement from schools could also be useful in growing awareness when it comes to problem social media use.
Dr. Moore emphasizes that bedtime and the time leading up to it should be screen-free to allow young peoples’ brains to calm down from the flurry of activity online scrolling creates. She notes that young people are especially susceptible to feelings of stress and anxiety at night when screens are present, which can harm sleep cycles, deepening potential mood issues.
As Meta pays billions, parents try to combat social media addiction
As Meta pays billions, parents try to combat social media addiction
