Your teen’s phone may be the reason they don’t seem as excited about life. The number of teenagers who claim they don’t enjoy life has reportedly doubled since smartphones and social media took over, according to a recent University of Michigan research.
Nearly half of today’s youth struggle to find joy and feel inadequate, which was far less prevalent ten years ago, according to research lead by psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge. Additionally, the study found that youths’ increasing screen time is causing them to put off important social experiences, such as dating and part-time employment, which may be having an effect on their mental health.
According to experts, the issue is not only excessive screen time but also the way screens are being used. Teenagers’ self-esteem can be damaged by the unattainable beauty standards, online bullying, and continual comparison that social media, in particular, exposes them to. Many teenagers today engage with pals virtually rather than in person, losing out on the in-person contacts that foster emotional resilience and confidence.
What can parents and teenagers do, then? Psychologists advise establishing screen time limitations, facilitating open discussions about the effects of social media, and supporting activities that take place in the real world. Although technology is here to stay, kids may be able to recapture the joy they’ve been missing if they can strike a balance between their online and offline lives.
