ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA: THIS ONE GOES OUT TO THE KIDS!
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This #socialmedia stuff is getting real serious. Our kids are suffering from anxiety, depression and reporting record levels of suicidal thinking.
Our children are purposefully being hi-jacked, taken over and gravely affected. We can’t take our eyes off the screen.
The average age of kids using smartphones is just 10 years old. WHAT???
Social media giants are very aware of the control and influence they have over our kids. They spend millions polishing and perfecting their tactics and honing their craft.
RECOVERY CARTEL PSA
STARTLING RESEARCH
Researchers believe this has caused, and will continue to give rise to, the staggering increase in teen-aged and young adult depression and suicidal thinking.
Can you even imagine a 11 year child committing or attempting suicide? Well, imagine the impact constant connection and comparison with other pre-teens may have on a young person. Imagine middle school 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
It is an absolute fact that, in large part, social media is the culprit.
Constant connection and constant comparison is not normal. Human being are not designed for this aspect of modern life.
Fear of missing out and fear of being left out are very difficult for teenagers and young adults to accept. These anxieties are taken to another level via social media.
WE MUST TALK ABOUT THIS!!!
Many of us do not understand the impact this has. We were taken by surprise with the smartphone. I did not address this issue with my older kids (now 26, 23, 20).
We must work to provide these kids with a better perspective.
100% SMOKE & MIRRORS
Social media, at its most fundamental level, capitalizes on the human desire to establish oneself in the tribe. It is a natural instinct. However, this instinct can backfire when it involves technology.
Stating the obvious. Our kids need to know that: a) Social media is not a reflection on real life. People do not always look that good. People do not put up bad news. The group that you envy is full of young people who are just as insecure and envious as you. b) Social media is essentially entertainment. Treat it as such. c) Social media is not going away. Each family and each person is going to need to figure out their relationship with social media. Do you engage at all? If so, how much? When and where? How old when you begin?
And perhaps most importantly: d) Social media doesn’t reflect real life achievement or a human being’s value. Anyone can look good, anyone can get a following, anyone can be an internet superstar. Literally, you can pay for likes, followers, and social media engagement.
It’s the matrix.
FACTS & INFO
Here’s the link to USA Today article – https://www.usatoday.com/…/depression-suicide-m…/3172743002/.
And here is the link to the actual American Psychological Association study. – https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/abn-abn0000410.pdf