A generation trapped in social networks
I have been a family doctor for almost ten years. My clientele is mainly pediatric, and it is my passion. I am fortunate to see hundreds of children grow up and to accompany their parents in this great adventure. I am also a mom of teenagers.
Counseling the parents of my little patients on the healthy use of screens is part of my job. But year after year, I notice that I have to intervene earlier and earlier in the child's life. Despite the current recommendations that are widely disseminated, I am often flabbergasted by the number of hours spent on social networks, from a very young age.
The number of consultations for mental health problems is increasing in our practices. Around me, I see extraordinary young people, who have everything to be happy, to suffer and to deteriorate, and I cannot believe it! The pandemic contributed, of course, but cannot explain this phenomenon on its own. The use of social media has also been singled out in recent years.
However, we learned, in recent days, that Facebook has information which shows that the use of Instagram deteriorates the mental health of a significant percentage of adolescents. Facebook knows it, hides it and does nothing. Worse, it will soon offer a version for the youngest and will expand its clientele even further. This project has just been put on hold following the steps taken by whistleblower Frances Haugen.
Counseling the parents of my little patients on the healthy use of screens is part of my job. But year after year, I notice that I have to intervene earlier and earlier in the child's life. Despite the current recommendations that are widely disseminated, I am often flabbergasted by the number of hours spent on social networks, from a very young age.
The number of consultations for mental health problems is increasing in our practices. Around me, I see extraordinary young people, who have everything to be happy, to suffer and to deteriorate, and I cannot believe it! The pandemic contributed, of course, but cannot explain this phenomenon on its own. The use of social media has also been singled out in recent years.
However, we learned, in recent days, that Facebook has information which shows that the use of Instagram deteriorates the mental health of a significant percentage of adolescents. Facebook knows it, hides it and does nothing. Worse, it will soon offer a version for the youngest and will expand its clientele even further. This project has just been put on hold following the steps taken by whistleblower Frances Haugen.
Of course, we also see inspiring things on these platforms. But that's such a small fraction of what you'll find there, and it doesn't measure up to the onslaught of appearance-driven posts, which in turn are much more lucrative for Facebook and content creators. Images that algorithms impose despite all the security parameters that can be implemented.
Yet I find that my patients and their parents are familiar with this data most often. However, they are trapped. The need to socialize is fundamental among our young people and unfortunately, this socialization is moving more and more towards the virtual. Anyone who does not participate may be excluded from much of the interactions with their peers. Some resist or survive it. These are children with strong self-confidence. But the most vulnerable are more negatively affected, and it is they who come to consult when things are not going well.
As a doctor, I am often powerless in the face of their suffering, because I have access to very few resources to help them. The waiting lists in psychology are full, and the public network is in crisis as everyone knows. I can only fall back on simple advice that works: more physical activity, more moments of contemplation and limit the time spent on screens and social media. But it is often extremely difficult to apply, because the addiction is installed and the young person is terrified at the idea of being excluded.
What to do as a parent, as a doctor, as a society? Continue to raise awareness? Ask our institutions to legislate? Ask schools to include more activities to educate our children? Obviously, the industry is not going to deal with this problem that it has created. She has too much to lose.
The action plan on the use of screens among our young people, which will be tabled shortly by the Legault government, will be a great opportunity to raise awareness, but for the moment, it does not seem to include any recommendations concerning social media. I hope that the final version will give us hope that things will change.
I dream of the moment when we will face each other as a society and when we will truly understand that our digital behaviors are hurting an entire generation. I also dream of seeing our adolescents protest together against this situation of which they are victims and refuse to continue to take part in it. I hope we will be there to support them!
Yet I find that my patients and their parents are familiar with this data most often. However, they are trapped. The need to socialize is fundamental among our young people and unfortunately, this socialization is moving more and more towards the virtual. Anyone who does not participate may be excluded from much of the interactions with their peers. Some resist or survive it. These are children with strong self-confidence. But the most vulnerable are more negatively affected, and it is they who come to consult when things are not going well.
As a doctor, I am often powerless in the face of their suffering, because I have access to very few resources to help them. The waiting lists in psychology are full, and the public network is in crisis as everyone knows. I can only fall back on simple advice that works: more physical activity, more moments of contemplation and limit the time spent on screens and social media. But it is often extremely difficult to apply, because the addiction is installed and the young person is terrified at the idea of being excluded.
What to do as a parent, as a doctor, as a society? Continue to raise awareness? Ask our institutions to legislate? Ask schools to include more activities to educate our children? Obviously, the industry is not going to deal with this problem that it has created. She has too much to lose.
The action plan on the use of screens among our young people, which will be tabled shortly by the Legault government, will be a great opportunity to raise awareness, but for the moment, it does not seem to include any recommendations concerning social media. I hope that the final version will give us hope that things will change.
I dream of the moment when we will face each other as a society and when we will truly understand that our digital behaviors are hurting an entire generation. I also dream of seeing our adolescents protest together against this situation of which they are victims and refuse to continue to take part in it. I hope we will be there to support them!
LEDEVOIR
Sylvie Bourassahttps://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/libre-opinion/638550/libre-opinion-une-generation-prise-au-piege-des-reseaux-sociaux?&utm_medium=email&utm_source=27544&utm_campaign=Courrier+des+id%c3%a9es+-+Week-end+du+9+octobre+2021
Sylvie Bourassahttps://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/libre-opinion/638550/libre-opinion-une-generation-prise-au-piege-des-reseaux-sociaux?&utm_medium=email&utm_source=27544&utm_campaign=Courrier+des+id%c3%a9es+-+Week-end+du+9+octobre+2021
