06/13/2022
Preventing deaths driven by social media
Mothers who link the deaths of their children to using social media have joined together to pressure tech companies and lawmakers to enact policies and laws to protect those 18 and under. Children’s deaths have been blamed on cyberbullies, dangerous viral challenges and drug dealing – all on social media. A number of studies have tied social media use in teens and younger children to depression and anxiety. Research shows that limiting social media to 30 minutes a day could lead to significant improvement in mental well-being.
■Class discussion: How much time do you spend on social media every day? Do you think it is possible to limit teens’ social media use to 30 minutes a day? Why or why not? Have you ever been bullied online? Has anyone sexually harassed you on social media? Have you ever tried some viral challenge just so you could put a video of yourself on social media? Has anyone online offered to sell you drugs, weapons or other illegal goods on the internet? Does spending time on social media ever make you feel insecure, depressed or anxious?