How does technology affect your teen?

Most of us grew up when technology was just coming onto the scene. Millennials and Gen-X saw the beginning of home computers and the transition from VHS movies and CDs to streaming services. The introduction of broadband internet and the first music players were hallmarks of most childhoods and adolescence.

For some, the rapid advancement in technology is enough to give them whiplash, and it’s a common cognitive distortion to feel that this part of your life is further away than it is. However, for the generation that followed, the babies of the late 2000s and early 2010s who are just now reaching their teen years, the experience was markedly different.

Now teenagers grew up when Facebook was already developed, Blu-ray players were common, and their older siblings probably already had an iPhone and an mp3 player. Born into this highly optimistic and expansive time in tech history, this young generation normalized the use of tech and the internet. According to a study by Pew Research Center in 2018, over 45% of teens aged 13-17 are online constantly, and 97% are using some type of social media.

Though most adults do maintain an online presence to some degree, social media plays a far more important role in the lives of Gen Z. So much so that psychologists are discussing the impacts on mental health as well as interdependence, self-esteem, and chronic usage. Could this level of unregulated internet usage be harmful, or is it simply the natural progression of the social nature of teens? Today, we dive into the effects of technology on teens and the mental health components parents should be aware of while letting their children online.

It’s important to know that as a child reaches their teens and begins to go through puberty, their minds are going through a quintessential development process. According to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, teen brains are learning how to think abstractly, as well as learning to take on other viewpoints, developing a personal sense of self and sexuality, and establishing a system of values. It is this feeling of self-realization coupled with a heavier reliance on peer-to-peer connections that lead some teens to crave independence from the family structure.

This presents a double-edged sword of sorts when it comes to social media. On one hand, platforms like TikTok and Twitter allow for a great deal of sharing ideas and forming a sense of community and connection with other like-minded individuals. On the other hand, the exposure teens have to these platforms can shape them in more permanent ways, meaning it is more important than ever to have an adult present to help them make good choices and understand concepts in more depth.

Another reason social media may not be the best place for teens to develop their newly budding sense of self is the nature of the content on social media. Many platforms rely on short-form simplified and surface-level content to drive clicks. TikTok is a great example; a teen could see a 30-second clip about a mental illness where the creator lists some general symptoms. The teen may then relate and self-diagnose, claiming that they are suffering from it. The more content they view the more content their algorithm provides, reinforcing this belief.

This can lead to an unhealthy feedback loop, and negatively impact a teen’s ability to think for themselves. In the same way that your child is developing their sense of identity so is the person sharing the content; and the desire to connect and feel a sense of belonging can cause distortion. If a child isn't able to disambiguate between social media content and actual fact-driven research it may be wise as a parent to step in.

This phenomenon may not be entirely negative. Social media excels as a means for young people to connect to others like them and learn. Sexuality isn’t always the easiest topic to address with parents, especially if they have concerns about acceptance. Being able to connect with other teens who are going through the same situations or gain access to information regarding concerns they may have is a huge boon to the younger generation.

The same issue that young children have with addiction to screen time is known to come up in teens as well. Teens who are involved in texting their friends constantly or checking their online profiles all day and night may find themselves struggling with focus and engagement with the real world.

Additionally, it’s important during these developmental years that teens can grow their self-esteem and sense of self worth. The highly superficial online world can be a detriment to this. Social media is a world of comparisons; seeing a model with an idealized body, another teen with a perfect room, or two social media stars in a whirlwind relationship may shape a young person's ideas of what they should be and strive for. In this way, social media can be very isolating for teenagers who engage with that sort of content.

Numerous studies have backed the idea that being exposed to these “perfect” people and scenarios can be damaging to young people's self-satisfaction. One of the most prevalent examples is around body image for young girls. Internalizing falsified images of women who they idolize may cause risky behaviors such as eating disorders, participating in dangerous fad diets, or even opting for cosmetic surgery.

All this is to say that it is key for parents to step in and help their children understand what they are seeing online. Social media is a great tool to connect us, and technology has brought a good deal of ease into our lives. As with anything, there is always the potential for too much of a good thing. Establishing a healthy balance between real life, and online activities is essential to the health and well-being of young people.