Children and teenagers can be exposed to content on social media platforms that is profoundly damaging their mental health
I’ve spoken with primary and secondary school students, teachers, principals, computer scientists and mental health experts about the impact on children and teenagers of smartphones, unfettered internet access and social media. Here are a few common themes.
2. Children and teenagers can be exposed to content on social media platforms that is damaging their mental health. Sometimes this damage is profound, with parents referencing anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, self-harm and suicide ideation. One of the problems is that the algorithms that determine what a child sees in their online feed can prioritise content similar to what they have already looked at. The objective is to keep the customer using the app for as long as possible.
4. Parents often feel powerless to act. There are parental control apps, but they’re complicated. Not everyone can afford them and they require constant monitoring. Children and teenagers can readily bypass them. On a school visit some time ago I asked a sixth class how many of them had mobile phones, and how many of those phones had full access to the internet. These are 11- and 12-year-olds. Nearly every student took a smartphone out of their schoolbag.
5. Young people want help with all of this. One teacher told me about the annual school trip, which is a week of outdoor activities. When they reach the camp, the phones are collected. He said that some students panicked, cried and asked repeatedly for their phones back for a day or two. Then the requests stopped. At the end of the week, the phones were returned. Many of his students didn’t want them back.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Stephen Donnelly looking into banning ‘cynicial’ ads for zero alcohol productsMinister for Health has asked officials for clarity around the issue, and said he was open to amending legislation if needed to stop the practice
Read more »
Donnelly keeps Children's Hospital cost secret as it's 'not in State's interest'Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has stated he has estimates for how much the new Children’s Hospital will cost but that it would be “not be in the interest of the State” to share it
Read more »
School principals: ‘No school wants to put any family under pressure’Schools are willing to work with families around voluntary contribution charges so that “no student will go without.”
Read more »
Law banning sale of e-cigarettes for under-18s due to be enacted in coming monthsMinisters for Health Stephen Donnelly will bring the finalised Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill to Cabinet for approval tomorrow.
Read more »
Ireland to crackdown on vapes with calls for restrictions on design and flavoursCabinet approved a bill from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly that will prohibit the sale of nicotine-inhaling products to anyone under 18 years.
Read more »
Man killed in workplace incident while clearing rock in Donegal named locally as Stephen Montgomery (43)Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal requested to attend scene in Bloody Foreland area
Read more »