Social media and gaming taking toll on teens, says psychologist

In a world where likes, shares, and screens shape daily life, today’s teens often have to navigate a digital landscape which connects them yet leaves many feeling isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed.

In today’s digital world, beneath the glow of smartphones and social media lies a growing mental health crisis, where online pressures are reshaping teens in ways society is only beginning to understand.

To gain greater insight into the effects social media and technology have on the mental health of children and teenagers, the NEWS met with Edenvale-based educational psychologist Bessie Venter.

“Often when we scroll on our phones, dopamine is released in the brain, and we get used to that amount of dopamine being released.

“Then, when a child sits in a classroom, they struggle to maintain that amount of dopamine and subsequently struggle with concentration.

“So I feel not only does excessive access to social media and technology affect concentration, but also a child’s mental health.”

Venter explained that while on social media, many will compare themselves to others while becoming used to instant gratification.

“School is not like that, life is not like that, we can’t always get immediate gratification out of everything, and I think our phones teach us to do that.”

Venter said one of the biggest challenges is controlling the content that children and teens have access to.

“Controlling content can be quite difficult, even if you use something like YouTube Kids, some inappropriate material still passes through, so I often recommend that parents make use of software such as Family Link and limit their child’s screen time.”

She said when children have uncontrolled access to content, they can be left to their own devices and may come across age inappropriate content.

“Adult content can really be problematic, especially among teenage boys.

“It is extremely habit-forming and addictive, and often goes from bad to worse.”

Venter highlighted that it is difficult to treat, comparing it to drug addiction.

“The negative effects are incredibly long lasting, it’s terrible for relationships,” said Venter.

Besides social media, Venter said gaming also contributes to the mental well-being and health of children and teenagers.

“Gaming can be extremely habit-forming, and children can become really addicted to playing games.”

Venter said it is again because of the release of dopamine in the brain that children and teens become addicted to gaming.

“Parents will often say to me that their child can play games for a whole weekend without moving, but struggle with their school work, and the one definition of concentration difficulty is inattention for low-interest activities,” said Venter.

Venter explained that one of the reasons for this is that when children are playing their games, they feel completely immersed and it is highly interesting, whereas school work is low-interest.

Venter said in her opinion, gaming can be a form of escapism for some children.

“It definitely can be, especially for teenagers. Boys will tell me that it calms them down when they are feeling aggressive but I don’t think it’s a good way of dealing with anger.

“They think they have dealt with their anger, but they haven’t dealt with anything.”

Venter said that although social media and gaming can have negative effects, for many young people it is a way of socialising and keeping connected and therefore there needs to be a balance.

“Finding the balance as parents is very important; if we take technology away completely, we sometimes isolate a child, especially a teenager.”

Venter said that although balance is important, it is difficult to define.

Venter said that ways in which parents can help reduce screen time and visual stimulation include introducing audiobooks into children’s routines, as well as encouraging extramural activities.

“What I ask parents to do is to replace visual stimulation with auditory stimulation.

“So instead of having screen time, children should listen to an age-appropriate audiobook.”

Venter said that although it does take practice to listen instead of watching content, it does improve listening skills, concentration and focus, which will help improve the child’s performance at school.

Venter said the introduction of extra-mural activities, which may vary depending on the child’s interests, is incredibly important in balancing screen time and promoting mental wellness.

Similarly, she encouraged children to spend time with each other in person.

Venter highlighted that excessive social media use and screen time will have an effect on a child’s socialisation and people skills.

“In terms of long-term effects, there are effects on our ability to concentrate in normal life settings, such as classrooms or meetings.

“We can’t necessarily throw out the baby with the bathwater because there is a lot of useful and interesting information. It’s also important not to use it as a babysitter.”

Venter encouraged parents to be involved in their children’s lives as much as possible and to engage with them about what they come across on social media, especially if they come across something inappropriate.