MARQUETTE, Mich, (WZMQ) – Nowadays it seems like everyone has a phone, and with social media growing in popularity, kids are getting online younger and younger.
Recently U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a report detailing the effects of social media on adolescents.
In the report, he said that 95% of kids ages 13 to 17 use social media, and even though most sites don’t allow users under 13, he found that 40% of children 8 to 12 are on social media despite limitations.
One of the main concerns is that phone access and social media can damage children’s sleep schedules, which Alyssa Slattery, a mental health specialist from the Marquette-Alger RESA, said could be a big problem.
“One in three adolescents are staying up till midnight or later on social media,” said Slattery. “So how can we expect them to function at school the next day with a clear head if they’re not getting sleep.”
According to the report, exposure to social media may also have harmful effects on children’s mental health.
“This is associated with suicide and emotional regulation issues,” said Slattery. “So it’s just a snowball effect.”
Some of those side-effects include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even self-harming tendencies.
But what can parents, teachers, and health care providers do to help prevent these harmful side-effects?
Slattery said the solution begins at home.
“Having those open conversations from the beginning about technology use, and social media use is the best way to go about it,” said Slattery. “And ultimately, holding them off as long as possible.”
So make sure you know the good and bad that comes with being online to help your kids stay safe and healthy.
If you want to see the whole report from the U.S. Surgeon General is can be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
