Have you noticed the enticing lure of checking into social media to see who has commented or upvoted a post?
If so, you are not alone! At least 82% of adults admit to daily social media use. And this lure is affecting younger ages than ever before.
Researchers are sounding the alarm about high social media use in children. Their findings indicate that high social media use may change how social information is processed in the brain – – But how?
Around age 10, children gain much higher interest in understanding what their peers think. Their opinions continue to gain importance throughout adolescence.
Social media is a chance to see how your ideas or contributions are received. It often involves interactions that convey judgment, so social media use is linked to greater value placed on other’s opinions. Compared to infrequent users, high social media use may “train” young brains to over-value other’s opinions.
Brain development occurs in stages, and some areas mature faster than others. Young children develop reward systems in the brain that help them stay motivated to explore the world. These rewarding signals in the brain keep us eager to engage with others and seek out new experiences. If these reward signals in the brain are too low, interest in daily activities plummets and depression can ensue.
Studies suggest that children and adolescents have higher motivation compared to adults, but fail to activate the brain regions that help us resist distractions or avoid risk-taking. Experts on this topic have noted that during adolescence, reward systems in the brain finish maturation quickly while cognitive control systems lag behind.
Low self-control makes the user likely to return to the same app again and again. And a high sensitivity to social rewards can make it feel irresistible. This is the perfect storm for very high social media use.
Social rewards come in the form of likes, upvotes, and positive comments. But social groups also punish one another through hurtful comments, downvotes, and in some cases, online bullying.
The most frequent users of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook as young children grow up to feel more sensitive to online criticism. “Children who grow up checking social media more often are becoming hypersensitive to feedback from their peers,” according to Eva Telzer, a professor with expertise on the issue.
Research studies on social media use note the distinctions between problematic and regular use. Problems occur when social networking pulls children from their dinner, homework, or in-person socialization opportunities. Kids rarely have the mental capabilities to set their own limits, so this is where parenting is key.
Studies suggest that initiating social media use at 10 years or younger is “significantly associated with problematic digital behavior outcomes” vs initiation at 11, 12, or 13. Negative outcomes includes online harassment of a general and sexual nature, as well parental disapproval of online friends.
Commit to understanding the use patterns for social media in your household. Conversations about time spent on social media can help the whole family understand the opportunity cost. (Choosing social networking “costs” us other opportunities, such as time for sleep, socializing in-person, and completing homework.) Be open about the potential for social media to create addiction-like behaviors in some individuals. This can help us intervene early, before it becomes an engrained habit.
Parents play a major role in setting limits for use. And even more than restrictions, parents must model responsible social media use. This may entail device-free dinnertime policies or time-limits on particular apps. Tools for limiting app use on electronic devices are available by tinkering with settings. Parents can also specify time-of-day use patterns and/or keep electronics in common areas to discourage nighttime use.
Limiting social media is important because when unchecked, high social media use is associated with risk of anxiety in children and adolescents.
In young adults, a higher intensity of Facebook use is related to more negative social comparisons, especially in those who are less happy to begin with. Similarly, young adults who frequent Instagram seek validation but often struggle to get the self-esteem benefits they are after.
When social networking use does not interfere with other obligations, it can support positive relationships. Several studies find that low to moderate use may be helpful for building social capital and supports feelings of bonding with others.
One of the other benefits of using social platforms is that it can help us stay on-track of our health. Research suggests that when we engage with others who are aiming for health improvements, it enhances our own health awareness and promotes behavior change. Online options for healthy behavior change have a “largely positive effect on users who become more knowledgeable, feel better supported, and may have improved outcomes.”
Treo’s Whole-person platform has grown out of the evidence-based research. We know that personalization matters, so every user experiences a different set of content tailored to their goals and preferences. And we know household dynamics influence health goal success. That’s why parents who use the platform can gain access to kid-friendly options, too. These include fun recipes, cooking videos, resilience techniques that work for any age, and pleasant sleep stories, to name a few.
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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