The following report is by Statista:
One of the reasons governments are moving to restrict teenagers’ access to social media is the fear of its harm to mental health. The topic has been reignited by the release of a new book titled The Anxious Generation, by New York University social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who links the rise in mental health illness directly to the proliferation of social networks and smartphones.
While Haidt writes that social media and smartphones are not the only causes of the mental health epidemic seen in several countries, he points to how such technologies are hindering children’s healthy development by reducing their time spent playing with friends in real life, eating into time for sleeping, as well as corroding their self esteem. Even children who do not use social media are struggling, he argues, due to the changes brought about to social life. Critics say, however, that correlation is not the same as causation and that the data does not show a complete picture.
As the following chart shows, the share of U.S. 12-17 year-olds having experienced a depressive episode in the past year has risen from 7.9 percent in 2006 to 18.1 percent in 2023. While the figure has come down from the pandemic high of 20.1 percent in 2021, it is still above that of 2019 and 2020. This is according to data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The source classifies a major depressive episode in the past 12 months if a respondent has had at least one period of two weeks or longer when they felt depressed or lost interest or pleasure in daily activities for most of the day nearly every day. Depressive symptoms include problems with sleeping, eating, energy, concentration, self-worth, or having recurrent thoughts of death or recurrent suicidal ideation.
The share of teens who had reported a major depressive episode was particularly high among Multiracial (24.4 percent) respondents in 2023, followed by white adolescents (19.6), Asian (13.7 percent) and Black teens (13.3 percent). There was insufficient data for calculating the Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander teenagers.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Social media has easily been one of the worst things to ever infect and corrupt the people of the world today. On one hand, there have been some benefits being to, for the most part, being able to more freely communicate and expose what is really going on in the world, and being able to reach wider audiences compared to before; but the cons indeed outweigh the good, especially when children are exposed to it and the horrors that exist out there, coupled with its addicting nature.
I’ve noted across a number of other articles previously that depression levels among the youth and the Gen-Z population in particular are off the charts. So, please, to all the older folks out there, you need to have some grace for the younger fellows in society.
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
I am not asking you to condone or justify wickedness. I am asking for you, for us all, to have some humility and mercy for these people today; because, quite frankly, a lot of you older folks simply have no idea what it is like to have endure and undergo all the wickedness and deceit that is being thrown the kids’ way. Yes, the current generations have a multitude of problems, that much is true, but thumbing your nose at them and walking with a haughty spirit as if you are somehow better than them – you need to check yourself and remember to stay humble, and recall where you came from.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. [6] Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
- The Sad Vanity Of This Life, Working And Eating To Never Be Fulfilled
- Spotify Posts ‘Bummer Summer’ Playlist Due To Large Uptick In Searches For “Sad” Songs By Gen-Z’ers
- Suicides In US Reached New All-Time High In 2022 According To New Data
- Anesthesiologist Reveals That Many Gen-Z’ers Are Very Depressed And Lonely, Using Drugs And Other Distractions To Cope
- A Rapidly Increasing Number Of Children Refusing To Go To School Are Blamed For Having ‘School Avoidance’ Mental Disorder
- Growing Number Of College Students Are Being Diagnosed With PTSD Due To Covid Lockdowns
- Tens Of Thousands Turn To AI Companions And Partners To Combat Loneliness In Dystopian Reality
- U.S. Armed Forces Sees Continued Rise In Suicides For Both Soldiers And Family Members
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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“Jonathan Haidt, who links the rise in mental health illness directly to the proliferation of social networks and smartphones.”<—-Agree
"Social media has easily been one of the worst things to ever infect and corrupt the people of the world today." AMEN Brother!
Yesteryear, social media was in person fellowshipping with others. Passing around photos to share. Doing things together. Time spent with one another.
Then came digital this, digital that. All has been 'sold' as a convenience. And, it is. It is also a trap. Modern life conveniences need to be utilized in a way that serves you, rather than you serve them – which is in large part what has occurred. A dependency, an addiction if you will.
Nowadays, if you go out to a restaurant to eat, the majority of tables (regardless of the number) are each looking at their phones rather than being in the moment with who is there with them. Same thing at events. People attend, film, watch through their phones rather than being in the moment. Saving and documenting an experience without experiencing it. It's not like you can get these moments back. Realistically, how many times will that filming be watched? Just think about what was missed that went on the left and right of that little screen, but they never saw it because they weren't living in the moment.
It is up to each individual to rein in how they use technology and for what purpose. Don't allow a device to rule you.
Today, parents place technology in the hands of babies and toddlers rather than a toy that sparks their imagination. In essence, a baby sitter – something to entertain the child rather than give them something to figure out and understand. Time went by and now we have tweens, teens, and young adults that don't know how to communicate face to face and are filled with fear and anxiety when they have to. They are a product of their environment. It's not their fault. It's the fault of those that were in their orbit when they were very, very young. Those people failed them. We may have young people in the work force who understand technology better than we do, but we also have some very damaged people who are genuinely hurting.
Well said.
Don’t think that it was any less easier back in the 60’s ether, I was picked on from K-12and in tech school and at work. I know what depression is also, we dealt with it with drugs and booze, it’s all the same no matter when ya growed up; it just has different factures that produce it.
Sorry Jacob, but you weren’t there, but to your point it is tough for all growing up and I’m not being haughty, we all have it tough.
Fair enough.
I know what it’s like to grow up with technology and social media. It totally destroys logical thinking about the world God made. You don’t see the beauty, order, and glory of the LORD’s creation.
We’re all made differently so some can handle technology and real life better.
It’s a disease made by man. Mobile phones came out in the 1980’s! ONLY 40 YEARS it took for all this mess. Addicting because of all the lusts of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life. Its a CARNAL cesspool where you can fulfill any of the lusts of your heart.
We’re not made to have that into our minds every day. We were made to receive understanding and information from seeing, hearing, and reading. Too much is thrown into our minds. I can’t handle information from across the earth when I’m trying to grow myself in America. Utter confusion for children today, they don’t even know what having a strong nation is like.