Digital Wellness

This week we focused on how social media is impacting young people. I was shocked to see after recording my technology use for a day that although most of the times I checked my phone for a brief period of time that over the whole day it added up to about 6 hours. Clearly social media and technology is impacting adults as well as young people! 

Teaching middle school students, I wasn’t shocked by most of what was presented in the video Being Thirteen (2015), though they are meaner online to fit in or get social standing than I fully realized. One idea that stuck out through the readings and videos was that although the way they socialize may have changed, young people might actually be just as social as previous generations. Previously young people would be on the phone or outside playing with the neighbourhood children instead of all on personal devices. Young people just want to be social and when parents restrict their free time with friends, many turn to their social media to get that same connection. The immediate feedback provided by social media can amplify a person’s fear of missing out (FOMO) and they seem to check in with the different apps more regularly (CNN, 2015). 

An increase in bullying, particularly cyber-bullying was suggested and although I agree that cyber-bullying has increased, I am not totally sure bullying in general has. Due to the ever-connected nature of social media, maybe the bullying has increased because now it isn’t just at school but also during home time. I also think that there may be an increase in “frenemies” due to the use of social media. As mentioned in the article by Signe (2012) girls are bullying in less obvious ways by seeming to be someone’s friend, but then setting up the other girl to be embarrassed to the point of acting out and being punished. This behaviour is often unnoticed by adults and the original bullies are not often caught as they don’t actually lash out.

This week has made me think about how we are using technology and how interactions may be changing because of it. I have shared quite a few tidbits of the videos and articles for this week with friends and family because the points have stuck out for me.

CNN. (October 5th, 2015). Being Thirteen:Inside the Secret World of Teens. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-9LtTtkg04

Whitson, S., (2012). When friendship is used as a weapon: Using life space crisis intervention skills to confront bullying. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 21(3). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.qe2a-proxy.mun.ca/docview/1326253635?accountid=12378