The more time kids spend on social media, the higher the risk of them developing depressive symptoms or “Social depression”. This is what emerged from a new study conducted by the Italian Society of Pediatrics and published in the scientific journal International Journal of environmental research of public health.
The work, based on a review of the scientific literature, examined 68 studies conducted from 2004 to 2022 with the aim of investigating related risks to use of the social media under 18in particular in the pre and post Covid-19.
Well, in 19 studies, equal to 27% of all those examined, it was found a significant association between depression and social media use.
“We have encountered several problems related to the increasingly frequent use, also due to the pandemic, of the network and social media, in particular Instagram, TikTok and YouTube which are the most used by kids – explains the doctor Elena Bozzola, SIP National Councilor – The problems we talk about include physical ailments such as headaches, visual and postural disturbances, “sms thumb” but the symptoms that left us most surprised related to the use of social media, were those of anxiety and depression. The same symptoms we found in another of our studies carried out in the first phase of the pandemic; study that had recorded a 84% increase in access to the emergency room by young and very young people for neuropsychiatric pathologies, especially suicidal ideation (+ 150%) and depression (+ 115%) ».
It was precisely from that study that pediatricians needed indagare what could be the causes underlying this worrying increase in cases of depression in boys. Causes that are assumed to be traceable precisely in a excessive use of digital communication that went to replace real interactions.
Depression is linked to a rapid increase in digital communication and virtual spaces that replace face-to-face contact with excessive use of the smartphone and online chats – explains Dr. Bozzola – Children and adolescents surf the Internet mostly by themselves, regularly consulting social media. This is not just an Italian phenomenon. In Sweden, for example, there was a correlation between more than two hours spent on social media and neuropsychiatric disorders, especially depression. And a study done in Egypt revealed how excessive use of the network corresponded to a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts ».
Problems that do not only concern adolescents, however. “We have found these risks in children and young people aged 8 years and over – specifies the National Councilor SIP – even if several American studies have highlighted that an early exposure to social media by very young children may lead to a greater risk of depression and anxiety in adolescence. Symptoms that then translate into that procession of risks that we now know, like social isolation, cyberbullying and drug use“.
Social depression and eating disorders
However, the SIP study also revealed an important correlation between use of social media and eating disorders. Children, the review notes, through the use of devices, are in fact more exposed to the marketing of junk foods that lead to unhealthy behaviors, and, conversely, also a dangerous pro-anorexia messages. Messages that, the SIP study still points out, are no longer confined, as was the case in the past, to easily trackable websites, but have been transferred to digital platforms such as Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest that are more accessible for children.
“Until recently, the problem of anorexia was mainly associated with the adolescent phase – explains Dr. Bozzola – now we have noticed an exponential lowering of the age of onset of eating disorderswith requests for hospitalization for girls who are 8 or 9 years old and who arrive with a condition of severe food restriction. This leads to health problems in the immediate but also in the long term with risks of hormonal alterations, growth failure and lack of pubertal development“.
Distortion of the perception of one’s body
A very delicate aspect also concerns the correlation between social media and the perception of one’s body.
«Today children and young people have one greater availability to use retouching tools image to pursue models of beauty that are not those that correspond to reality and that they generate insecurity and a lack of acceptance of their own body – explains Dr. Bozzola – From a study it emerged that as many as 30% of adolescents do not give up the ‘retouching’ of their photographic image before posting it on social media with their peers. This strongly undermines self-esteem and the relationship with food also worsens ».
Finally, among the dangers of the network highlighted by SIP research, there are also those related to the sexual sphere. Social platforms can indeed alter the perception of the sexual sphere of adolescents, as well as exposure to online sexual material, including through pop-up windows or advertisements, is a real risk on the net and can predispose to depression, suicide and substance abuse.
«An important danger is also the online grooming, a form of sexual abuse perpetrated online by an adult on a minor – specifies the doctor – would require a social education course. Today, however, children surf the net unprotected by parental control and can run into various risks ».
Which strategies so should they be put in place to reverse this dangerous course?
«First of all we must emphasize that from a study it emerged that also a modest motor activity in subjects who were already depressed it gave the possibility of bringing back the symptom – explains the National Councilor SIP – A walk and a little movement can therefore be the best antidotes against social media overdose ».
Me too’information and awareness a fundamental aspect remains on these issues.
«Our goal was to inform pediatricians on the risks associated with the abuse of social media, so that they themselves can pick up any alarm bells in time warning families – concludes Dr. Bozzola – Often, in fact, parents realize late that they are experiencing a problem. It is important that pediatricians can give guidance on what may be the behaviors of children and young people not to be overlooked: for example, if they begin to refuse certain foods, if they become more closed and irascible, if they do not want to go out with friends and spend more time in front of the screens. Identify the signs early it helps to prevent the situation from getting out of hand ».
Feeling depressed can make us age faster. The results of a study
Social networks: why taking a break can make us happier
TO Hyenas Bélen Rodriguez talks about the obsession with perfection on social media
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
