A new study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that when young people rethink their relationship with social networks, they reduce their negative impact on their mental health.
During the six -week period in which participants were traced, the control group did not improve, as expected, however, members of the abstinence and education groups saw improvements in mental health, although in different ways.
“The abstinence group was the only group that reduced depression, stress and anxiety during the six -week period,” says Amori Yee Mikami, lead author of the study. “But the educational group, which we taught the advice and tricks, were actually the only ones that reduced the fear of getting lost and loneliness.”
Mikami, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, says that future study and research in this area have implications on how school leaders and other political leaders respond to the implications of the mental health of social networks.
“There is a lot like talking about how social networks can be really bad for their mental health, and I think it can be,” he says. “But for me, the greatest food to carry is that there could be another option besides, or instead of, just try to quit smoking, there could be a way to learn some tips and tricks to use social networks in a more intelligent way.”
The participants in the educational arm of the study were encouraged to be aware in their use in social networks.
“Many people say they use social networks without thinking,” says Mikami. “It's like a reflection: you raise your phone to verify, but you don't even know why you're checking. It simply feels like a habit. What we are trying to do in that educational group is to change that pattern. Then, use social networks more intentionally with a purpose, and while paying attention to what you are getting from it, and how it makes you feel. “
She adds: “The point is to close the session, or try to separate, get away, reduce the type of use that makes you feel bad, but on the contrary, support and expand the type of use that makes you feel good and bring you the things you want in your life.”
In general terms, people want to avoid things like the displacement of fatality and compare themselves to an influencer that they do not know or that really care. On the other hand, people should spend more time focusing on the type of use of social networks that tend to enjoy, which generally focuses on those who know and care about real life, says Mikami.
“Apply in those relationships,” she says. “That could intentionally mean being more actively committed to them, commenting on their publications, sending them a direct message.”
Implications for school policy and in the classroom and future research
Mikami says that the next stage of this study is to analyze the impact of similar interventions on younger adolescents in the age range of middle or secondary school in the US. Uu. Or high school in Canada.
“Some of the participants in our study said that the advice and tricks were really useful now, but they would have been more useful when they were in high school,” says Mikami. “Many of them said: 'Well, it was felt that social networks were our whole world at that time.'”
Meanwhile, educators and parents can help children by changing their own social networks and arguing that.
“Adults of all ages are probably as guilty of the use of meaningless social networks as adolescents,” says Mikami. “I encourage parents and teachers to think about their own use of social networks and the model they are preparing for their children, and then talk about it with their children.”
Many schools have banned cell phones in the United States, partly in an attempt to limit the use of social networks, and Australia has even banned it for 16 -year -old and minor children. This research suggests that this may not be the only option.
“I wonder if it is not realistic that everyone stops the use of social networks completely; Even if you try to ban 16 -year -olds to use social networks, you will find some way to avoid it, ”says Mikami. “Then you have done it forbidden, and once they are 17, I wonder if you will see a rebound effect.”
She adds: “Reducing the use of social networks on average is probably a good idea. What I like about this study is that there are also other options. It is not just the total amount of time that social networks use. It is also about what you are doing on social networks.”
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