Are smart phones making us sad? What happens when dumb is smart?
I hear that some young people (not mine) are abandoning their smartphones in favour of “dumb phones”, which can only handle texts and calls. So, no internet, social media … you get the idea.
Are smartphones really making us sad? This “digital detoxing” trend is fuelled mainly by people who are worried about their mental health. They’re concerned about the time they’re spending on social media, and the often-harmful content available there. Some brave young guinea pigs even took part in an experiment and some of the comments were wonderful!
In a survey of 2,000 13-18-year-olds, conducted by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC-Bitesize, 35% said social media should be banned for under-16s.
What you see and how long you see it
Excessive social media use is now widely considered as a type of addiction; for young people, 3+ hours per day doubles the risk of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders such as anorexia, according to a US study.
And the US Surgeon General concluded: “… harmful content … (promotes) body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviours, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls.” Despite this acknowledgement, we can’t wait for our self-interested social media companies or well-intentioned government to sort this out for us.
Protecting ourselves and our families
- Agree boundaries and rules on social media use – what content is allowed and when;
- Agree gadget-free times such as before/during bedtime, mealtimes, time with family & friends;
- Visibly set a good example yourself – and stick to it;
- Use gadget settings to limit screen-time
- Delete any apps you waste most time on or that affect your happiness e.g. X/Twitter, TikTok or Snapchat. Then if you miss them, decide if they are truly useful or just “electronic caffeine”.
Where else can I get support and information?
Perhaps you or someone you know, young or old, is struggling with anxiety or addiction? Whatever the cause, remember you are not alone, there is help for you out there and we can help you find it.
Treacle.me includes links to loads of brilliant support for a huge range of mental health issues, including addiction, bereavement, bullying, loneliness, eating disorders …
… plus hundreds of other local and national groups offering free support and advice about other family issues, finances, work and so on, many of which you simply won’t be aware of. Treacle.me is free to use, has no annoying ads and never asks for your data or anything about you. Although it does work quite well on a smartphone (!)
Take care out there.
Helen