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According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Americans average 7.5 hours of daily screen time from ages 8 to 18. All this time spent on video games, social media platforms and mobile devices may be due to a screen addiction. Recent research out of Weill Cornell Medicine found the problem begins in early adolescence.
“Half of the adolescents had persistently high mobile phone addiction scores at 11 years old,” says Dr. Yunyu Xiao, assistant professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine. “This is a problem, as social media is emerging as a critical social determinant of health.”
Social determinants of health are nonmedical issues that play a key role in a person’s overall health and quality of life. Those recognized by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion include:
While some of the above always have a positive or negative effect, the effects of screen time on adolescent mental health vary.
“All screen time is not equal,” Dr. Xiao says. “Watching educational videos is different from mindless scrolling.”
Several factors that contribute to mental health outcomes include:
Young people seem to be at particular risk of screen addiction, and social media is a common culprit. Today, the American Psychological Association states that the average teen spends 4.8 hours on social media every day.
With more screen time, children are experiencing an increase in mental health issues, including:
“Sensitive developmental periods, such as puberty or transitions to independence, might modify social media’s impact,” says Dr. Shannon M. Bennett, associate professor of psychology in clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Therefore, we need to weigh both pros and cons carefully.”
Despite the negative mental health associations between screens and teens, there are potential benefits of screens. These include:
Teens also claim that their phones support their creative endeavors and help them pursue their interests. The problem comes with addiction.
“Compared to low-use groups, adolescents addicted to social media were more than twice as likely to engage in suicidal behaviors,” Dr. Xiao says. “Mobile phone and video game addiction also increased the risk.”
Using a smartphone or other device doesn’t necessarily mean your child has an unhealthy relationship with technology. There are other signs to look out for. According to Dr. Bennett, screen and social media addiction can be evaluated similarly to other addictions.
Symptoms of screen addiction include:
Whether you want your child to overcome or avoid screen addiction, a few steps can protect your teen’s mental health in the age of social media.
Screen addiction can affect anyone at any age, and adolescents are at particular risk. Understanding the symptoms and taking action can help reduce risk.
Looking for help managing screen addiction or other addictive behaviors? Find a doctor at Weill Cornell Medicine today.
