Although smartphones and social media are often cited as significant factors that contribute to the youth mental health crisis, a new episode of the Thriving Kids podcast discusses how research on the matter isn’t as cut and dry.
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In the podcast episode, Dave Anderson, PhD, the Child Mind Institute’s senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education, discusses this topic with Candice Odgers, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California who is one of the leading researchers studying technology and adolescent mental health.
For more than 20 years, Odgers has tracked young people’s daily lives, often through their own phones, to understand what shapes their well-being. In the podcast episode, she explains that data shows social media to be one of the weakest predictors of children’s mental health, how correlation can get mistaken for causation, and what evidence shows about phone bans in schools.
She also emphasizes that family relationships, quality friendships, sleep, and the well-being of adults in their lives are what really matters when it comes to supporting children’s mental health.
Some tips provided during the podcast for supporting a child’s mental health without making the phone the entire conversation include:
- Look at the whole picture, not just the screen: When something feels off, resist the urge to blame the phone first. Make sure a child is getting the basics that protect mental health – real-world social connection, enough sleep, and activities that help to build identity and self-confidence.
- Keep the line of communication open: Think of your role as scaffolding – give children age-appropriate independence while keeping a line of open communication so they feel that they can come to you. Children are more likely to tell a caregiver when something goes wrong online if they respond to problems calmly and without judgment, and not immediately resorting to taking a device away.
- Pay closer attention to children who are already struggling: Children going through a difficult time or under stress are more vulnerable to the downsides of social meda. Keep an eye on how a child seems after they have been on their phone. If they are withdrawn, upset, or showing signs of anxiety or depression, it’s worth a closer look and, if necessary, a conversation with a mental health professional.
- Model the balance you want to see – especially with sleep: Children notice how the adults around them use their phones. Set an example with phone-free dinners and family time, and protect sleep with a no-phones in the bedroom policy after a set time. Sleep deprivation is among the most common contributors to low mood in teens.
For more information, listen to the Thriving Kids podcast.
