HJAR Sep/Oct 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  SEP / OCT 2024 39 Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH President and Chief Executive Officer Arkansas Center for Health Improvement communications by contact type and time and to block inappropriate content. Ahow- to video is available on theArkansas Center for Health Improvement’s website at achi. net/youthsocialmedia. Ensure social media use does not disrupt sleep Work with your children to agree on screen-free time starting at least one hour before bedtime. For younger teens, have a place where phones are left at night that is not in their bedroom. Parental control devices can also be set to have devices automatically lock at a set time. Reserve some screen-free time for things your family can enjoy together, such as board games, neighborhood walks, or playtime with pets. Protect children from inappropriate content In addition to using parental controls to block inappropriate content, work with your children to ensure they understand and follow safe online practices, including: • Recognizing, blocking, and reporting unwanted or inappropriate content. • Reaching out when they see or experience harassment. • Recognizing and understanding the implications of cyberbullying. • Not sharing any personal information online. For younger teens, consider periodically discussing their social media use with them to help them learn — and help you to guide them— about appropriate and inappropriate online communications. Watch for warning signs Be on the lookout for possible signs of problematic social media use, such as disruptions in relationships, schoolwork, or extracurricular activities; significant mood changes; eating habit changes; and obsessiveness or deceptive behavior regarding being online. Set a good example Finally, keep in mind that your behav- ior has an influence on your children. Be mindful about the ways you use social me- dia and the amount of time you spend on screens. This will not only set a positive ex- ample — it may improve your own mental health as well. n REFERENCES 1 Office of the Surgeon General. “Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory.” 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/ default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social- media-advisory.pdf 2 Murthy, V.H. “Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms.” The New York Times. June 17, 2024. https://www. nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media- health-warning.html 3 Riehm, K. E.; Feder, K. A.; Tormohlen, K. N.; et al. “Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth.” JAMA Psychiatry 76, No. 12 (Dec. 1, 2019): 1266-1273. doi:10.1001/ jamapsychiatry.2019.2325 4 Alonzo, R; Hussain, J.; Stranges, S.; et al. “Interplay between social media use, sleep quality, and mental health in youth: A systematic review.” Sleep Medicine Reviews 56 (April 2021). doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101414 5 Shochat, T; Cohen-Zion, M.; Tzischinsky, O. “Functional consequences of inadequate sleep in adolescents: A systematic review.” Sleep Medicine Reviews 18, No. 1 (April 2014): 75-87. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2013.03.005 6 Nesi, J.; Mann, S.; Robb, M.B. “Teens and Mental Health: How Girls Really Feel About Social Media.” Common Sense. 2023. https://www. commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/ research/report/how-girls-really-feel-about- social-media-researchreport_web_final_2.pdf 7 Rideout, V.; Robb, M.B. “Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences.” Common Sense. 2018. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ sites/default/files/research/report/2018-social- media-social-life-executive-summary-web.pdf 8 Vogels,E.A.“TeensandCyberbullying2022.”Pew Research Center, Report. Dec.15, 2022. https:// www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/ teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/ identities. But there is growing evidence that spending large amounts of time on social media can also harm young, developing minds. One study found that 12- to 15-year- olds who spend more than three hours per day on social media are at double the risk for depression, anxiety, and other poor mental health outcomes compared with their peers who do not use social media. 3 Other stud- ies have shown significant associations be- tween excessive social media use and poor sleep quality among young people. 4 This is concerning in light of evidence that sleep plays a crucial role in healthy adolescent development. 5 Social media can also expose young peo- ple to predatory, hateful, or bullying online behavior. Nearly 6 in 10 adolescent girls who use Instagram (58%) and Snapchat (57%) say they have been contacted on social media by a stranger who made them feel uncomfort- able. 6 Almost two-thirds of teen social media users (64%) say they are “often” or “some- times” exposed to hate-based content on social media. 7 And nearly half of teens (46%) report having experienced cyberbullying. 8 While policymakers and the courts grap- ple with the appropriate limits to place on social media, parents and caregivers can act now to help children and adolescents safely navigate the digital landscape. The follow- ing are some recommendations to consider. Monitor time on social media Pay attention to how much time your children are spending online. Learn how to find and use the parental controls built into most devices, which can be used to monitor and reduce screen time, schedule when apps are not available for use, and limit the amount of time spent on specific apps. The controls can also be used to restrict