Impact of social media on children faces fresh scrutiny

Barely a day goes by without concerns being raised about the effect of social media on children’s mental health. Now a study aims to delve behind the headlines to ascertain whether it has been unfairly vilified.

By analysing data from a longitudinal survey of 40,000 households, researchers from Portsmouth and Sheffield universities hope to identify the biggest risk factors for children’s mental health. This could help determine whether social media are negative or positive for children’s wellbeing and in what circumstances.

Craig Duncan, a senior research fellow at Portsmouth University and one of three experts working on the project, said: “Social media have been associated with all sorts of worries to do with mental health – there’s a lot of anxiety about it.

“What we are hoping to do is gain data that gives us a sense of those factors most strongly associated with mental health. Is it [young people’s] social media use that’s more important, their local neighbourhood or parental influences?

“We are hoping to reach the stage where, given the data set we have, it is possible to identify particular ages, genders or social backgrounds where social media might be more or less strongly associated with children’s mental health.”

The study, which concludes in April, focuses on 10- to 15-year-olds using data from the Understanding Society survey, which began in 2009. Children and adults regularly answer questions on mental health, relationships and social media.

The likes of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have had to contend with a number of negative headlines about their impact on children’s mental health. The most recent official statistics on mental health in England, published by NHS Digital in November, found 11- to 19-year-olds with a disorder were more likely to use social media every day than those without.

Among daily users, young people with a disorder spent more time on social media, while females within the same age group were more likely to compare themselves with others on social media. However, the Mental Health Foundation said the research had not yet provided a conclusive answer.

Publishing the first guidance for parents on how long children should spend on their tablets and phones, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said earlier this month that spending time looking at screens was not intrinsically bad for health but parents should ensure their offspring get enough sleep, exercise and family interaction.

The research team hopes to create guidelines to help mental health authorities recognise when social media could help young people, and when it could make them feel worse.

Another key risk factor being explored is parental influence, including the mental health of a child’s parents or carers.

Duncan, who carried out the research with Prof Liz Twigg at Portsmouth University and Prof Scott Weich at Sheffield, said that if their models suggested a weak association with mental health, it was vital it did not dominate conversation to the detriment of other risk factors. “Professionals’ focus needs to be on whatever factors are most associated with mental health,” he said.

Sophie Dix, the director of research at MQ: Transforming Mental Health, which is funding the study, said: “This research brings together two of the key areas where speculation is rife in the mental health of young people: relationships with parents and social media. It is essential to gain some real understanding into how, on a large scale, we can look at patterns and use an evidence base to form plans to help young people.”

She said there were many assumptions about how both of these elements played a role in a young person’s mental health but there was not the scientific research to back up these claims. “With one in 10 children affected by mental illness, it is vital that we are making informed choices about treatments and interventions,” Dix said.

(source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/15/impact-social-media-children-mental-health)