Transcript
Dr Lucia Magis-Weinberg This is very close to my  heart, as a person who is Mexican and who really   is an advocate for doing work in the majority  world, is talking about the missing 95%, right?   The reality is that most children and adolescents  are growing up in majority world countries,   they’re doing so in an increasingly digitalised  context. Young people in this context are the   fastest growing demographic of online users,  but they have unequal digital media access,   usage, skill and opportunity, as was  drastically highlighted by the pandemic. And we are not – unfortunately, the majority world  countries have largely been left out of research   on the effects of the digital environment.  Only five to 30% of published research   is done around the realities in the majority  world, and this leaves these countries out   of global decision-making. Which means that our  current understanding is really failing to capture   issues that prevail in majority world countries,  where there’s a very large gender digital gap,   where there’s stark differences between  rural, suburban and urban areas. We   just don’t understand enough how youth from  ethnic minorities are using the online world   and the impact it has on them. And where  there’s limited resources for parents and   Teachers to effectively mediate, and as a result,  there’s limited capacity to enact regulation. So, with this, I would like to close  my presentation. I think I’ve shown   you that the association of social media and  mental health is complex. Platforms play an   incredibly central role in the lives of youth.  The landscape of social media is complicated.   I’ve shown you that there’s immense  opportunity online, but there’s also risks,   and these are especially for those who are more  vulnerable. There is a lot of design features   that make a big difference and make these  platforms very engaging. There’s algorithms   driving young people towards harmful content,  and importantly, benefits will not materialise   without equitable access, use and capacity  to extract these benefits and maximise risks. We need to develop young people’s social media  literacy and young people need to be scaffolded,   they need to receive scaffolding from parents,  from schools. At the same time, platforms need   to have age appropriate design, safe and playful  – be safe and playful by design. And lastly,   we want effective regulation of these big tech  companies, that is really taking into account the   experiences of youth globally. And with that, I  thank you for your attention, thank you very much.

Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health

Duration: 43 mins Publication Date: 28 Jun 2023 Next Review Date: 14 Apr 2027

Learning Series Description

In this three-part learning series, Dr. Magis Weinberg explores the complex and evolving relationship between social media and adolescent mental health. Drawing on scientific research and developmental insights, she examines how digital platforms can offer opportunities for connection, learning, and expression—while also posing risks related to harmful content, exploitation, and problematic use. The series highlights the importance of going beyond screen time to consider content, context, and patterns of engagement, as well as the global disparities in access and research. Throughout, Dr. Magis Weinberg underscores the need for digital literacy, adult scaffolding, and evidence-based design and policy to support adolescent well-being online.

About this Learning Series

This learning series includes:

  • 43 mins of on-demand video
  • Access on desktop, tablet and mobile

Details:

  • Level: All Levels
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

Social media and mental health in adolescence - Conclusions

Duration: 3 mins Publication Date: 28 Jun 2023 Next Review Date: 28 Jun 2026 DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13703

Description

This talk is the third in a three-part series where Dr. Magis Weinberg explores the intricate relationship between social media and adolescent mental health. In this final session, she highlights why measuring screen time alone is insufficient for understanding digital experiences, emphasizing the need to examine content, context, and engagement patterns. She also discusses the global digital divide, stressing the lack of research on majority-world youth and the need for equitable access to online opportunities. Finally, she calls for improved digital literacy, scaffolding from families and schools, and stronger regulation of tech companies to ensure safer online environments for young people.

Learning Objectives

A. To understand why screen time alone is not a sufficient measure of social media’s impact.
B. To explore how adolescents’ online activities shift rapidly and involve diverse content.
C. To discuss the lack of research on majority-world youth and its consequences.

Related Content Links

Inside the Teen Brain - Screen-agers
Social Media Experiences and Proximal Risk for Adolescent Suicidal Ideation

Paper Link

https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/camh.12625

About this Lesson

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Speakers

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Learn
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