Facebook Depression: Report of How Social Networking Can Affect Our Youth

A report released today (March 28, 2011) by the American Academy of Pediatrics has come up with a syndrome they call Facebook Depression.  This report is titled:  Clinical Report—the Impact of Social Media on  Children, Adolescents, and Families.  Although Facebook allows people to remain in contact with friends and develop relationships, there can also be a downside.  MyHealthNewsDaily reported, “heavy use of Facebook, as well as other risks of the online world such as cyber bullying and sexting, can have serious consequences, so it’s critical for parents to stay involved in their children’s lives.”

This is not the first time social media has and its impact on young adults has been studied.  Livescience explained, “A big chunk of kids’ social development now takes place in the online world, according to the report. A study released in February 2010 found that 70 percent of wired American teens and young adults use social networking sites. A 2009 poll conducted by Common Sense Media found that more than half of teens use a social networking site more than once a day.”

The good is that there are some “benefits of children and adolescents using social media including:

• Opportunities for community engagement through raising money for charity and volunteering for local events, including political and philanthropic events
• Enhancement of individual and collective creativity through development and sharing of artistic and musical endeavors
• Growth of ideas from the creation of blogs, podcasts, videos, and gaming sites
• Expansion of one’s online connections through shared interests to include others from more diverse backgrounds (such communication is an important step for all adolescents and affords the opportunity for respect, tolerance, and increased discourse about personal and global issues)
• Fostering of one’s individual identity and unique social skills–Enhanced Learning Opportunities”

For the complete report click here.

Related Articles

• Adolescents at risk for ‘Facebook depression,’ study warns (theglobeandmail.com)
• Docs warn about Facebook use and teen depression (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Social Networking May Affect Kids’ Health (webmd.com)