- There are psychological, social and environmental factors that draw young people to media.
- The best strategies to address excessive media use should be based in open communication, clear and consistent rules, encouraging balance and mitigating pathways to harm.
Kids are growing up in a totally digital world, so how can parents help provide balance?
Nicole Powell, clinical research specialist at Boston Children's Hospital Digital Wellness Lab, gave practical tips for parents to address problematic media use in a recent presentation at the Stark County Health Improvement Summit.
The issue, she said, doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution, but given the prominence of media use, it is important to address.
"We live in a digitally saturated world," Powell said. "It's embedded into our lives."
She said in almost all cases of children and adolescents having unhealthy relationship with media, there is some underlying factor or condition such as ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression or other mood disorders.
While Powell encourages parents to limit and monitor children's media use, the wrong approach could make things worse.
"Parents and children often have different perspectives on what constitutes reasonable screen time," she said. "Parents' efforts to control media use can be seen as infringement on their independence."
When does media use become problematic?
Not all media use is bad.
"Media has positive and negative aspects to it," Powell said. "But I also wanted to highlight some of the opportunities that it has as well because I think sometimes the conversation is skewed a little bit more negative."
First, phones keep us connected.
"Teens are more driven towards peer relationships, and this can be an opportunity for social interaction," Powell said.
Additionally, an online platform can be a space for self expression and identity.
The internet also has a plethora of knowledge and easily accessible information.
There are several ways media use becomes problematic such as when it is prolonged, used as a distraction, used as a means of emotional coping or keeping you from sleep or other responsibilities.
Why are young people drawn to media?
There are psychological, social and environmental factors that draw young people to media.
As far as psychological factors, social media platforms are often designed to keep users online through things like notifications, pull to refresh and infinite scroll.
"Adolescents are particularly sensitive to these reward systems," Powell said. "Immediate gratification and frequent rewards provided by gaming and social media platforms can lead to a dopamine release, reinforcing usage patterns and potentially contributing to these addictive behaviors."
It is also a coping mechanism and escape from stress in the real world.
Social factors such as peer pressure also keep young people online.
"We use this term a lot in the lab, which is FOMO or FOBLO. Which is 'Fear Of Missing Out' or 'Fear Of Being Left Out,'" Powell said. "This is what we see all the time."
Social factors can also be at play in family dynamics. When parents are modeling excessive media use, kids may emulate it.
In addition, when parents and children's opinions clash on media use, it could create a deeper problem. These conflicts can increase stress and become a dangerous cycle.
Widespread availability and constant exposure to media can be an environmental driver of problematic use.
How can I promote digital wellness?
Powell said the best strategies to address excessive media use should be based in open communication, clear and consistent rules, encouraging balance and mitigating pathways to harm.
That can all be summed up in the 5 M's of digital wellness: model, mentor, monitor, memories and mastery.
- Model: Demonstrate the behavior you want to see in your children. Do not use devices during family time or when a child is seeking your attention. Set boundaries for yourself.
- Mentor: Guide your children to understand the power and potential of digital tools. Teach responsible use. Discuss appropriate versus inappropriate use. Have conversations about and seek to understand new technology and apps as your child is introduced to them. In other words, take an interest in what they are doing.
- Monitor: Keep track of children's digital activities and have access to their accounts, but do not be overly intrusive. Having random checks encourages more appropriate behavior.
- Memories: Prioritize creating offline memories that strengthen family bonds.
- Mastery: Help your child master the digital environment, teach them to understand media and think critically about content they consume. Teach them to use technology to help solve problems, create content and achieve goals. Promote digital literacy.
A parent's experience practicing digital wellness
Patti Fetzer, director of prevention for the Stark County Educational Service Center, has two kids and three grandkids.
Her mother started setting boundaries early for the whole family when it came to cell phone use during family time.
"For family dinner, she had all of us put our cell phones in a basket inside the door so that we would be focused on conversations at the dinner table versus our phone," Fetzer said.
She said her family learned to respect the rule because everyone participated.
"If my mom would have taken our phones away, but yet, she kept her phone and she was on her phone at the dinner table, the respect wouldn't have been there, but all the adults were modeling that same behavior at the same time," Fetzer said. "I think it's teaching, giving that structure and having those conversations about when do we use the phone and when do we put it away."
In her experience with her kids and grandkids, the most important ways to promote digital wellness have been using modeling and communicating clear rules and the reasons behind them.
When her daughter was in her teens, Fetzer took away her phone overnight.
"She recognized that she needed that boundary because she would have friends that would text her in the middle of the night," she said. "As long as you're having the conversations and you're talking to them about the why. With my daughter it was that it's really not a good idea that you're getting these calls or texts at night, you need to focus on your sleep and not worry about your friends in the middle of the night."
Fetzer also recognizes how technology can lead to social connection. She lives states away from her grandchildren in Connecticut and Tennessee, and they like to connect over Facetime.
"It's having those times when we have conversation and activity and maybe singing songs together. I've even read books over FaceTime with them," Fetzer said. "Make it interactive just like if you're in person with them."
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
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