>> Many people may experience feelings of anxiety depression loneliness around the holidays.
We hear that that happens
often.
>> And that includes our
children, especially while
their home from school you know
for winter break.
A recent article from the Wall
Street Journal suggests that
teenagers and young adults are
becoming more anxious and
depressed solitary because of
the increased use of
social media. Gloria Saatchi’s
the owner of the body image
counseling center. She’s
joining us this morning to talk
more about this study and what
it reveals.
>> Well good morning, thank you
for being here do appreciate so
there seems to be kind of 3
factors
involved here.
>> Among them, you know
concerns about global issues
which I thought was very
interesting and other things
associate with
social media.
>> Right so kids are constant
cut we all are constantly
bombarded with these messages.
From from lots of different people and kids are becoming much more concerned about
climate change about about
global issues about war
about there are a lot of kids
are coming in
to me talk about fear about the
future even in middle school
worrying about what they’re
going to do with their lives
and careers.
>> College in and deciding what
they want to be when they grow
up how does that impact there
their self esteem and just self
consciousness of the of
maybe how they look or their or
their indigenous your
particular a group of teens
that are more susceptible to
this than others.
>> Well that the study that I
was talking about on in the
Wall Street Journal they talked
about teen girls being the most
vulnerable instagram especially
show is much more focused on
girls looks and and what you
know what they’re supposed to
look like rather than the boys
even though they’re vulnerable
to
they’re all vulnerable, but
this is kind of the first
generations of generations of
kids have grown up with social
media.
>> So it’s interesting because
one might assume if you think
what back let’s bring facebook
and this was a way to stay
connected with people right to
make you not feel lonely
however it appears from what
you’re what
I’m hearing. It is causing even
the opposite effect and I’m not
just singling out facebook but
the social media in general,
it’s true it’s it’s it’s
unfortunately they have a
filtering effect where you only
see the positive and that’s not
people’s real lives.
>> And kids even adults feel
like they can’t keep up with
it. So it’s very hard for if
your brain is not fully
developed a
kind of be able to question
this with a critical eye.
So it’s interesting based on
this this this article is we’re
talking now about teenagers who
kind of the opposite in terms
of socialization it’s actually
causing more isolation, You
less willingness maybe to take
risks what about independents
are they worried about
you know becoming independent
as you mentioned going off to
school in deciding what they
need to be kind of when they
grow up right I think a lot of
your lot of kids calling
adulting they’re afraid to be a
to a to
go adult.
>> As a has been especially
when you’re bombarded with all
these messages about how
perfect you have
to be.
>> And it’s not and if they
don’t talk about how you need
to try and fail in practice
and so kids debt do tend to
isolate and become less social
and try things.
Don’t try thing sooner a lot of
kids are more afraid to drive
they drive later. Yes
leave home. We have very
differently with this with you
know in my own home about you
know not wanting to get their
learner’s permit exact still so
let’s talk about the good let’s
talk about what we as parents
can do one.
>> Point that you’ve made is
really encouraging just the
them to just turn off the
phones and unplugged
themselves.
>> And it’s not easy for
parents. A council a lot of
parents and what they tell me
is it theirs is just impossible
to kids learn how to sneak
around and not do it but I
I encourage parents to be
strong and stand up there’s a
lot of parent
control software, it’s still
your house you can take the
phone at night and you can do
it with love and tell them they
don’t have to be your friend.
You know you’re there to
protect them and these and also
to get the kids educated.
So it’s not just you coming
down like a hammer, but them
understanding that this is
highly
addictive the and this
repetitive messages to the
brain very difficult to turn
Are the rule in our household,
I was just going over this by
side with my son is you’re not
allowed. No charging in that in
the bedroom. >> All the charging and it’s not about to be in there at
night you know and what it but
it’s hard because it starts
this this.
>> Discussion or argument with
your child is like
why why promise of doing
everything right but it’s like
no discussions off right once
you start discussing is last to
know is
rather than thank you. Gloria,
using that tonight.
Thank you for being here to
port and setting limits having
them turn off the phone unplug
from the computer get out and
get some exercise right.
If you or your child is in need
of support and counseling you
can contact the body image
counseling center at this
number 8, 7, 3, 7, 3, 2, 3, 2,
and obviously as you just heard
from Laurie, she specializes
things other than
self image right but helping
you and your child better