Unlimited access to social media has radically changed childhood and adolescence. According to psychologist Jonathan Haidt, this “great reconfiguration” has replaced free play for digital life, affecting the social and emotional development of young people.
Studies show a rise in anxiety, depression, and eating disorders among teenagers, especially girls, who use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Hyperconnectivity fosters social comparisons and digital addiction, which only worsens these issues. For boys, excessive gaming and use of other media platforms online reduces social interaction and affects their interpersonal relationships.
Haidt recognizes the benefits of technology but insists that it is necessary to set limits: no cellphones before the age of 14 and no social media before the age of 16. Allowing children Access to devices can lead to an increase in depression and anxiety in their teenage years that could continue into their early adulthood. He also underscores the importance of free play and contact with nature in positive childhood development.
Likewise, it is important that children learn to resolve their own conflicts and that we give them the necessary tools to not live a sheltered life and to grow up resilient and able to face challenges. Parents should be present and become guides for their children without being helicopter parents.
As parents and teachers, we have a responsibility to give children and teens tools to strike a balance between the real and the digital worlds in order to ensure their mental and emotional wellbeing in the short, medium, and long terms.
Ariana Jacinto
Early Elementary Psychologist
