Social Media and Mental Health
Social media can have both positive and negative effects on mental wellbeing. It can enhance connections, increase self-esteem, and improve a sense of belonging. However, it can also lead to tremendous stress, pressure to compare oneself to others, and increased sadness and isolation. Mindful use is essential to social media consumption.
National Online Safety has released a new guide for parents and carers focussing on social media and mental health and wellbeing.
It is estimated that one-third of children have a social media account. Social media can be a great way to communicate with friends and family. It is a space where children can view fun creative content. However, it is not without risks, and it is important that trusted adults are aware of the content that young people are consuming and posting.
Not only is there peer pressure of trends, including focussing too much on likes, shares and comments, it is also easy for children to get carried away and lose track of time when browsing social media, leading to negative effects on sleep patterns and reduced engagement in physical activities.
National Online Safety’s guide discusses how social media can impact a young person’s mental health and well-being and offers parents and carers advice on how best to monitor their child’s usage and have conversations with them about it.
Please have a look at the attachment below.
