There is a rise in mental health issues and suicide among adolescents. This needs to be taken seriously. To do so, we must seriously consider this issue as a whole and avoid falling into a tech panic.
Some food for thought.....hint: it's not a tech problem....it's a cultural problem...it's a public health problem:
The latest wave of criticism of Big Tech alleges that social media platforms are responsible for serious mental health issues in children. This assertion ignores the serious and growing problem in society. It also completely disregards other factors that may contribute to a child’s well-being.
In a universe of 100 children online their circumstances and the influences on their mental health will be drastically different.
At least one in seven American children have experienced abuse or neglect in the past year. .
(CDC)
Nearly 22% of American children have pre-existing behavioral health issues.
Note that the internet and social media do not appear in these lists:
The study found that over two-thirds of children with mental health conditions experienced at least one of the eight evidence-based social or relational health risk factors examined in the analysis compared to about half of children without mental health conditions.
Factors examined included economic hardship, food insecurity, unsafe neighborhood, racial discrimination, multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) like substance abuse or domestic violence, poor caregiver mental health, and low levels of caregiver coping or high aggravation with their child.
One in 44 American children is on the Autism Spectrum.
In short, long before they log onto their devices many kids are at risk for a variety of demographic, cultural, economic, and other reasons that have nothing to do with social media.
Fortunately, Congress is currently developing a major bipartisan initiative to develop the mental health workforce, leverage technology to deliver services via telehealth, make sure youth receive the services they need and to ensure parity in insurance coverage.
There are flaws in research and we like to find blame outside ourselves. Our society has been in decline since the late 50’s according to my mom. She was born in 1930. I agree with here. I’ve been a middle school teacher for 35 years and I see the family disintegrating and relying upon others to do the hard work of raising their own kids. I hope and pray that people will realize that God loves them and He is a good, good Father. We all need direction and peace that I believe comes ultimately from God.
Some food for thought.....hint: it's not a tech problem....it's a cultural problem...it's a public health problem:
The latest wave of criticism of Big Tech alleges that social media platforms are responsible for serious mental health issues in children. This assertion ignores the serious and growing problem in society. It also completely disregards other factors that may contribute to a child’s well-being.
In a universe of 100 children online their circumstances and the influences on their mental health will be drastically different.
At least one in seven American children have experienced abuse or neglect in the past year. .
(CDC)
Nearly 22% of American children have pre-existing behavioral health issues.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/study-reveals-fourfold-range-in-rates-of-mental-health-problems-among-us-children-based-on-relational-and-social-risks
Note that the internet and social media do not appear in these lists:
The study found that over two-thirds of children with mental health conditions experienced at least one of the eight evidence-based social or relational health risk factors examined in the analysis compared to about half of children without mental health conditions.
Factors examined included economic hardship, food insecurity, unsafe neighborhood, racial discrimination, multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) like substance abuse or domestic violence, poor caregiver mental health, and low levels of caregiver coping or high aggravation with their child.
One in 44 American children is on the Autism Spectrum.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd
One in eight American children is at risk for malnutrition, a circumstance that can have profound developmental and behavioral health implications.
https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts
Thirty percent of American children have experienced bullying.
https://americanspcc.org/bullying-statistics-information/
One in 12 American children is on a prescribed psychiatric drug.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-through-the-looking-glass/202108/are-children-and-adolescents-overprescribed
A variety of influences have come together to create a crisis among young women.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/13/teen-girls-violence-trauma-pandemic
And then there is COVID:
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/headed-back-to-school-a-look-at-the-ongoing-effects-of-covid-19-on-childrens-health-and-well-being/
In short, long before they log onto their devices many kids are at risk for a variety of demographic, cultural, economic, and other reasons that have nothing to do with social media.
Fortunately, Congress is currently developing a major bipartisan initiative to develop the mental health workforce, leverage technology to deliver services via telehealth, make sure youth receive the services they need and to ensure parity in insurance coverage.
https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-crapo-bennet-burr-release-mental-health-parity-discussion-draft
But even more importantly clinicians are on the ground already developing community-based programs that will reach children and their families
Nice series!
There are flaws in research and we like to find blame outside ourselves. Our society has been in decline since the late 50’s according to my mom. She was born in 1930. I agree with here. I’ve been a middle school teacher for 35 years and I see the family disintegrating and relying upon others to do the hard work of raising their own kids. I hope and pray that people will realize that God loves them and He is a good, good Father. We all need direction and peace that I believe comes ultimately from God.