Social media addiction is shaping young minds and sending them into a negative spiral, which parents are not even aware of (Pic: Instagram/iStock)
Netflix's latest show, Adolescence, is a masterclass on how vulnerable today's teenagers and youngsters are. Social media addiction is shaping young minds and sending them into a negative spiral, which parents are not even aware of.
According to experts, puberty brings many hormonal changes—upheaval in emotions, rage—driven by bullying and shaming on social media, which can result in teens adopting violent and hit-back behaviour. As shown in Adolescence, many teenagers today are on the edge, and cyberbullying is causing mental health issues like heightened anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
Harmful online content related to self-harm, eating disorders, or even toxic behaviour greatly influences negative thought patterns and unhealthy coping mechanisms. And that is where there is a need for a digital detox, especially for young minds.
What is digital detox?
A digital detox refers to a period of time when you may refrain from using tech devices like smartphones, televisions, computers, tablets, and social media websites. Experts say it is seen as a way to focus on real-life social interactions without distractions and helps reduce the stress that stems from constant connectivity. Heavy technology use is also linked to sleeping problems, depressive symptoms, and increased stress levels.
How to do a digital detox?
Many people think that a true digital detox involves predefined abstinence from any and all digital devices and social media connections. However, experts say it is important to make your device usage work for your own life and demands. And so, doing a digital detox does not have to involve a complete separation from your phone but setting boundaries.
A few ways you can do it include:
Turn off notifications
Constant updates on what is happening around the world are not just distracting, but can also play with your emotions, focus, and concentration. The best way to fix it is to turn off as many notifications as you can live without.
Convert to black and white
Vibrant colours and light are among the main reasons most people get glued to their devices. However, smartphones now allow you to change the settings, so the entire phone appears in greyscale, which helps not just remove the colours but also makes your phone less pleasurable and significantly reduces screen time.
Keep the phone away while eating
While it is common at both home and restaurants to eat alongside eating your meals, experts say this habit has a profound effect on your brain. From reduced social interactions to brain rot and overeating, phones cause it all.
Keep tech away from your bedroom
Most youngsters today have a habit of scrolling their phones endlessly before sleeping at night. It not only disturbs your sleep but also causes many other mental and physical health effects. So, make sure to leave your phone out of reach at night.
Always clean your social media accounts
The more time you spend on social media, the worse you may feel. According to studies, the more time youngsters spend on Facebook or Instagram, the poorer their mental health outcomes are. And so, it is important to do digital spring cleaning from time to time. Do not be afraid to block, mute, unfollow, or delete until you have created a list of connections who make you laugh and smile and fill you with happiness.
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