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Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

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Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#151

Post by reustle »

geranim0 wrote: post #138
tempfs wrote: post #97

Everything in this country, in this life, is a competition. One big zero-sum game. It starts in high school. Social status, academics, athletics, and now social media followers and likes. I am very glad that when I was in high school, social media wasn't really a thing yet. I could leave it all at school. Just go home and read, play video games or go outside. Most of my mistakes were limited to the memories of those…

It's a competition if you view it as a competition. Yes, it does take time and effort to shift the way you view things, but totally worth it.

I agree, but how much time does it take to realize this as an adult? How about as a teenager?

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#152

Post by nullc »

treespace8 wrote: post #18

Parent of a teen, one anecdote to add. You see what all your friends are doing all the time. Every gathering or event that you where not a part of you see, sometimes in real time. People hate being excluded, and this greatly amplifies this feeling. I'm certain I missed out on a ton of cool stuff as a kid, but at least I didn't have to see it.

Or seeing it presented in ways that make it seem much cooler: Lots of events I've been to look way more amazing in pictures people post then they actually were being there. :)

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#153

Post by epgui »

ginger2016 wrote: post #89
eggsmediumrare wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt you're all that familiar with his work if you think his main point is anti-diversity. Read The Righteous Mind. It's a really good book.

I am not familiar with his work, I watched his videos on YouTube. In the videos he is frequently talking against diversity and equity, and I was surprised a Professor of his stature advocating against diversity and equity. I found his arguments divisive and thought it was directed at the diversity and equity initiatives aimed at increasing enrollment of people of color in major universities and technology companies l…

He is not advocating against diversity and equity. You’re completely misunderstanding what he is saying.

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#154

Post by CalRobert »

geranim0 wrote: post #138
tempfs wrote: post #97

Everything in this country, in this life, is a competition. One big zero-sum game. It starts in high school. Social status, academics, athletics, and now social media followers and likes. I am very glad that when I was in high school, social media wasn't really a thing yet. I could leave it all at school. Just go home and read, play video games or go outside. Most of my mistakes were limited to the memories of those…

It's a competition if you view it as a competition. Yes, it does take time and effort to shift the way you view things, but totally worth it.

We've made it in to a competition by creating false scarcities of necessities (mostly housing). If you want a home, you need to be better than your peers.

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#155

Post by adrianN »

Manuel_D wrote: post #150
graeme wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of that list is pure fact: Multiple major recessions —> 2008 was biggest since 1929. Dunno about multiple a global pandemic —> this happened and is still happening rising inflation —> objectively true. Though I suspect the oncoming recession will quash it as in 2008 housing and education getting more expensive by the day —> huge house and education price increases in past decade, far outstripping inflation pros…

> Which do you think are just products of the media? A lot of them. The '08 recession happened when most teenagers were in elementary school. The economy has thoroughly recovered the last several years leading up to COVID. Mountains of debt after graduating, is only an issue if you plan to go to college. A lot more teenagers are realizing the scam and predation that a university education is unless you've got a serio…

What do you think where those 200 million will flee to? Certainly not other arid or equatorial countries.

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#156

Post by jnotwell »

paxys wrote: post #68

Social media definitely amplifies it, but consider the economic and social environment that teenagers have lived through their entire lives. Multiple major recessions, a global pandemic, rising inflation, housing and education getting more expensive by the day, prospect of a mountain of debt right after graduation, climate that will be unlivable in a few decades, political extremism becoming the norm, and massive gov…

Reflecting on the state of the world always leaves me thinking of this[0]:

30 March 1973

Dear Mr. Nadeau:

As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

Sincerely, E. B. White

[0] https://lettersofnote.com/2012/01/06/wind-the-clock-for-tomo...

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#157

Post by mlindner »

paxys wrote: post #68

Social media definitely amplifies it, but consider the economic and social environment that teenagers have lived through their entire lives. Multiple major recessions, a global pandemic, rising inflation, housing and education getting more expensive by the day, prospect of a mountain of debt right after graduation, climate that will be unlivable in a few decades, political extremism becoming the norm, and massive gov…

This is just wrong. Teenagers don't know or care about recessions or inflation as it doesn't affect them. Nor do they know about the cost of housing and education. Teenagers don't care much about the government either.

Social media blows up the fear about climate change (it definitely will not be "unlivable") and political extremisism.

Being misinformed about things you can do nothing to change isn't good for mental health, regardless of your age, and that's exactly what social media does.

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#158

Post by XorNot »

bigDinosaur wrote: post #113
XorNot wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Insert Socrates quote here. What adults think they understand about current trends in teenage culture were laughably wrong when I was a teenager, and there's no reason to think the trend has changed.

I'd normally agree, but in this case I think a lot of us in the older generations are realising we're also being affected. I certainly am, it's not just the teenagers.

And this was exactly what the older generation was saying when I was a teenager. There's always a special pleading as to why this time for this issue it's definitely different.

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#159

Post by dr_dshiv »

thorncorona wrote: post #103
AbrahamParangi wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Consider the possibility that this perspective might be less a reflection of reality and more a reflection of the media environment.

Does that make it any less true though? It causes people to change how they act. Political activism among youth seems to be quite high. Perhaps for the better.

> Political activism among youth seems to be quite high. Perhaps for the better.

Or sometimes for the worse. I can see how engagement in politics or disengagement from politics could both negatively impact mental health. Personally, I found it very difficult to “be on Facebook” and watch friends and family politicize. I can see how political engagement can be a coping mechanism but I can also see how it can be a source of psychological toxicity.

Re: Teen mental health is plummeting and social media is a major contributing cause [pdf]

#160

Post by WalterSear »

noisy_boy wrote: post #141
WalterSear wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Not relationships, marriage, work, or community I don't understand how you could think any of this. Relationships? They are absolutely a competition for the young: both platonic and romantic, but especially romantic. Nothing more competitive. Work? Work is absolutely a competition, for young and old alike. Community? What else do you think teens are seeking out online?

Relationships are a huge competition in an atomic family type situation - children competing with spouses for time, spouse/kids competing with grandparents, family competing with friends... and god forbid if you have a family member with medical needs. When time was collective because of extended families, this stress got spread out and not as much noticeable but with the shrinked family unit, this is only going to g…

I was thinking about the establishment of peer groups and identity in teens, but you are right that there are other forms of relationship competition.
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