Transcript
[MSICA]
[SPEAKING]
On the subject of social networks it is a subject of great interest for parents, educators, caregivers and professionals. There is no doubt that social networks have been a phenomenon in the last 10, even 20 years, and that it should break, the social media society has taken us with a feeling of not reaching the crest of the wave or maybe I lost a train.
Especially when we focus more on the impact that having in children and adolescents. The feeling of lack of information also extends to the investigation. And we actually have a great limitation in relation to evidence available to advise parents and professionals on this subject.
What we know is that the risk to mental health and the use of social networks has a relationship that can be described as an U, in which the non-existing use of social networks, both non-existent and non-existent is related to an increased health risk of children and adolescents. While a frequent but limited quiz risk in time is related to higher adaptability levels and less risk to mental health.
The extreme risks, the risks of non-existent use or excessive use, usually related to isolation, with vulnerability or with risks of exclusion, in the group of equals. If, for example, we consider excessive use of networks other associated risks are, for example, cyberharassment, social media addiction or imitation of risk behaviour between equals and through the social media.
The use more adaptive or less related to problems for mental health in children and adolescents, are common but time-limited uses, quiz an hour or two hours a day, where we see that this leads to higher degrees of sociability, higher levels of access to information or general, indicate greater adaptation to the environment.
If we focus quiz on younger children, in children under 12 years of age, the evidence scientific what suggests that quiz be completely disadvised access to social networks. Regular use of social networks may be associated with greater risk of or greater impact on mental health and possible, quiz in very young children, is that it will be an access with a high degree of supervision by part of caregivers or parents.
So, in short, when we consider the potential risk for mental health in children or adolescents in relation to access to social networks, it is important to consider the following points. One, set limits in time, that is not unlimited access. We have mentioned quiz 1 hour or 2 hours a day as something that indicates an adaptation. Monitoring access to social networks by the adults, parents or caregivers, and that supervisor, being more important the younger he is access to social networks an education on online security, safety in line and with a need for privacy in the children are aware of the limitations at the time of share magnets or share information with extracts.
To encourage a critical thought, therefore, through which children are able to know that not all the information that comes through social media is and that sometimes contacts through networks what they seek are ways to influence negatively in the conduct of children. And of course, to promote activities that are offline, outside technology, outside social media, as alternatives to leisure.
And finally, something that has already been mentioned, obviously, to establish positive models of adults in the use of technology. Therefore, do not expect from our children or children behaviors we don't follow ourselves. [MSICA]