It's called "Facebook depression"---and I guess you could see how it could, perhaps, happen:
"Add "Facebook depression" to potential harms linked with social media, an influential doctors' group warns, referring to a condition it says may affect troubled teens who obsess over the online site.
Researchers disagree on whether it's simply an extension of depression some kids feel in other circumstances, or a distinct condition linked with using the online site.
But there are unique aspects of Facebook that can make it a particularly tough social landscape to navigate for kids already dealing with poor self-esteem, said Dr. Gwenn O'Keeffe, a Boston-area pediatrician and lead author of new American Academy of
With in-your-face friends' tallies, status updates and photos of happy-looking people having great times, Facebook pages can make some kids feel even worse if they think they don't measure up.
It can be more painful than sitting alone in a crowded school cafeteria or other real-life encounters that can make kids feel down, O'Keeffe said, because Facebook provides a skewed view of what's really going on. Online, there's no way to see facial expressions or read body language that provide context.
The guidelines urge pediatricians to encourage parents to talk with their kids about online use and to be aware of Facebook depression, cyberbullying, sexting and other online risks. They were published online Monday in Pediatrics.
Abby Abolt, 16, a Chicago high school sophomore and frequent Facebook user, says the site has never made her feel depressed, but that she can understand how it might affect some kids. "If you really didn't have that many friends and weren't really doing much with your life, and saw other peoples' status updates and pictures and what they were doing with friends, I could see how that would make them upset," she said."
It's something to think about, given that more of us in the facial difference/Moebius community than ever are on the internet, and on social-networking sites. I think the important thing to remember is--what you see on Facebook isn't necessarily always "real." Sometimes it is. But sometimes, I suspect, people want to portray their lives and experiences as more wonderful than they really are. And not all of the folks who "friend" you or whom others have "friended" are truly good friends, in the traditional sense. We all know that. People just have to keep what they see online in perspective. Of course, when you're in your teen years, that's not always the easiest thing to do...
We should also remember that not all online activities for kids is necessarily bad--as another report out today points out:
"While the news media tends to focus on the negatives of this new technology, social networking also has many advantages for kids. In addition to strengthening connections with friends and family, social networking encourages participation in community service activities, collaboration with classmates on group projects, the sharing of musical and artistic achievements, and communication with sports coaches and teammates, and that's just for starters.
"In addition, the online world is beneficial for those kids who don't quite 'fit in' at school -- it can help foster their identity and unique social skills," explains Clarke-Pearson.
So how does it go wrong? "Teens are susceptible to peer pressure and are also naturally impulsive, so they may quickly comment on an inappropriate post without thinking. This can easily snowball and become very hurtful to the person who's targeted," says Clarke-Pearson. Some families have also become so overly digitized that time together at home and during meals is being displaced. Direct interaction with peers is disappearing as well.
"When texting becomes the main mode of communication, it doesn't allow for tone, body language or facial cues," says Clarke-Pearson. But the right parental interaction and involvement can ensure that won't happen. Here's how to help your child use social media and game sites to her advantage:
Get schooled: Immerse yourself in the technology so you know how to create a profile, "friend" your child, and be a part of her online life. She may insist that you don't embarrass her by posting on her wall for her friends to see, for instance, but that's okay. You still get a window into her world.
Model it: If you're constantly on the cell or computer, your kid will want to be, too. Limit your time so you can help your child strike a balance with her own use.
Power down: Insist that family meals are device-free and set reasonable bedtimes. "Children and adolescents don't get enough sleep as it is, so staying up half the night on line certainly doesn't help," says Clarke-Pearson."
There's more--read the whole piece.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only
a page." -St. Augustine
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