Is social media maybe not as “social” as we think? Could it even be a danger for society? Accusations against internet giants like Facebook and YouTube are stacking up. Among the critics are people who worked in the sector for years.
Today’s Situation
Facebook boasts an estimated 2 billion users over the age of 13. At the end of 2017 a new news app called <Messenger Kids> was introduced, especially made for children ages 6-12. To start out, it is only available to Apple devices in the USA. Texts, pictures and videos can be sent with it, video chats can be held, and parents have a certain amount of control over their child’s activities.
The question looming in my mind is: Are children in any way able to use social media sensibly? An initiative was undertaken in which about 20 organizations and more than 100 physicians and psychologists said, "No." This campaign, entitled "For a Childhood Without Advertising," also collected 15,000 signatures calling for Mattel to refrain from putting the language assistant 'Aristotle' on the market. Opponents of the device feared not only an interference in the privacy of the children, but also the danger that they could become potential hacker victims and that their addresses would be used for marketing purposes. Mattel had planned to launch the device in the summer of 2017 for $299.
They point out: “More and more studies show that excessive use of digital devices and social media damages children and teenagers. Therefore the new app will probably undermine their healthy development. They also stated that children cannot cope with the pressure of social networks and have not developed a value for and a sense of privacy. New studies of children and adults show that frequent use of social media promotes dissatisfaction, depressive moods and sleeping disorders.
Former Facebook and Google employees and investors have created a Center for Human Technology. Their main critique was that services like Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube
follow one main goal:
to keep the attention of the user for as long as possible, in order to produce the greatest possible audience for advertising purposes. (Money)
They call attention to the fact that, of course, addictive behavior is being promoted, as can easily be deduced from the well-known example of television. The longer one sits in front of these devices, the greater the fascination with a fantasy world and the less one is interested in real life and especially in relationships. The risk of a negative impact on society is tangible.
I recently received a questionnaire from Facebook, asking for my personal opinion about how good Facebook is for the world. So we can see that sensitivity to the subject is on the rise. Let's keep an eye on this trend.
So interesting! The more messages you receive, the happier you get! But how long can that go well? Can one become addicted to that? Could normal life suddenly seem boring and therefore avoided? Could it impact my interest in school, responsibilities at home or my social interactions? Could my frontal lobe be damaged – irreparably? Impossible! You think?
Like Slot Machines
Those who have ever played the slot machines can understand the “rush” the element of surprise produces in your brain. It works much like a rewards system, calling you to check your phone again and again to see if something new has come in. Many young people are addicted to the system and think they have to answer every message immediately.
Interesting Study
One study was conducted by Professor Jean Twenge shows that teenagers who spend three or more hours on electronic devices per day are 35 % more likely to develop a suicidal risk factor than those who spend less than one hour. At five hours plus, the probability rises to 71 %. The happiest children are those who spend relatively little time in front of a screen.
In one of her books, Professor Twenge explains why kids who are strong on smart phones are less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy and completely unprepared for adult life.
Basic math will tell us that if technology crowds out interpersonal relationships in favor of virtual contacts, our actual friendships will not be enhanced, but impoverished. God put the first couple in a beautiful garden. They were completely happy in that superb setting, where they could see each other and communicate face to face. Isn’t that the quality of relationship that we as people really need?
Social networks have opened unbelievable possibilities, the benefits of which we can enjoy every day. This is not generally a problem for those of us who are older because our brains have already been programmed. For younger people, however, there is grave danger, which we would better take seriously before it’s too late.
Is Facebook Dangerous for Our Health?
Worse than cigarettes and alcohol:
Research scientists demand warnings be issued against social media.
Social media is a danger to the mental health of our youth. This is the conclusion drawn by the study <StatusOfMind> from England. The potential for addiction is higher than with cigarettes and alcohol. A connection between the increase in depression and phobias can also be traced to Facebook, Instagram and Co. For this reason, researchers are making the following practical political demands:
- Warnings must be given explaining the dangers of excessive use.
- Providers must recognize endangered users and offer them various methods of help.
- Schools must educate children and youth concerning these dangers.
It is a huge challenge for our schools to carry the responsibility of teaching the balanced use of social media if the parents refuse to cooperate. After all, it is the parents’ sole right to raise the children, while the school is only invested with the right to educate.
Social Media
At the beginning of 2017, two health organizations, The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and The Young Health Movement (YHM), polled 1497 youth aged 14-24 about their use of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Youtube.
The effects of these on their well-being are quite divergent:
- Youtube is generally viewed as positive.
- Twitter and Facebook are more neutral.
- Snapchat and Instagram are perceived as having a negative influence.
The problem in the last two is the strong emphasis on pictures and the incitement to self-portrayal. Especially girls and young women are discouraged with the reality of their own bodies as compared with the artificial perfection depicted there.
Fear of Missing Something
1. A continuous confrontation with pictures of happy, contented friends and their amazing experiences and achievements can cause young people to feel they are constantly missing out on something. (see FEAR OF LOSS) They suffer with the thought that their lives are ordinary and boring in comparison and they cannot keep up.
2. The fact that the pictures have been edited and processed only reinforces the effect.
3. Another big issue is the lack of sleep that the use of social media entails. This problem also compounds the other effects of low self-esteem, creating a vicious cycle.
"Man, what did he just say? What am I supposed to do? Well, I don’t feel like homework anyway. I can’t wait till school is out. Then I can do something fun.”
Opportunities in Social Media
Some researchers actually see some good opportunities in the use of social media:
1. Young people can partake of the experiences of others and obtain information about health from experts.
2. An online community can have a strengthening and stabilizing affect, for example, when outsiders find others on the web with similar interests.
3. The universal distribution and incomparable capability to connect people from all walks of life, social media can serve as a powerful catalyzer for good mental health.
The amazing potential concealed in the digitalization of information is almost inconceivable. We cannot go back. Somehow we must always only move forward. But how? And where are we headed? Is artificial intelligence the answer? Could it lead to a dead end or perhaps into the desert?
It is up to the reader to weigh the pros and cons. There are advantages and disadvantages to every decision. We are all challenged to make choices, not only for ourselves but also for our children. It’s a responsibility we must carry.
In two weeks, this subject will be continued with a special focus on families with children from toddlers to youth. Suggestions will be given on how to deal positively with the world of media in the family. The more we understand these things, the less likely our families and family members will become victims of our society’s progress.
See you soon.
