The usage of social media among children has become a topic of growing concern. Recent research highlights the potential harm associated with excessive social media use, taking into account various factors such as the amount of time spent, content exposure, and the disruption of essential activities like sleep and physical exercise.
Studies reveal that adolescents spending more than three hours daily on social media face twice the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Alarmingly, a 2021 survey found that teenagers, on average, spend 3.5 hours per day on social media.
Social media can perpetuate body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, particularly among adolescent girls. Many girls aged 11-15 admit to feeling “addicted” to specific platforms, and a majority of teenagers find it challenging to give up social media.
For more information, read U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
