Better managing young people's use of technology

What are the impacts of technology on young people and children?

You won't be surprised to learn that overexposure to screens has several impacts on children. Neuroscientist Dr. Joël Monzée noted, in 2018, that children who do not engage in enough activities using their motor skills are more likely to have learning difficulties, and this as early as kindergarten.

Among the negative impacts of overusing technology in young people, a child's visuo-spatial perception can be affected; for example, they might have difficulty drawing themselves. Overexposure to screens can also overstimulate the brain's executive functions, which has consequences for inhibition and impulsivity. In addition, screens tend to accelerate the secretion of dopamine, a natural "pleasure" hormone, making it difficult to detach from technology.

Psychological impacts

Aside from neurological impacts, overuse of screens can have psychological consequences for our children. The speed of technology conditions young people to think that everything is obtained easily and quickly. The lack of interaction caused by time spent in front of a screen can also lead to underdevelopment of emotional attachments, which means the child will be less equipped to face the various challenges of life. Finally, too much exposure to screens can lead to internet addiction.

Knowing the different platforms and social media used by young people

To properly understand the challenges around us and how our young people use social media, it is essential to know a bit about the platforms available to them. Obviously, we will omit the traditional text message, as it is relatively simple and easy to understand.

• Facebook and Messenger: a must-have social network that has existed since 2008. It is a platform aimed at young people aged 13 and up that allows connecting with friends and family. Messenger is only the messaging platform associated with the social network, but it is possible to use it without a Facebook profile.
  
• Instagram: a social-network-type application that allows sharing photos and videos about their life or interests while engaging with other users' content on the platform. It's generally a less private network than Facebook.
  
• Snapchat: a messaging app primarily in the form of images and video. Its peculiarity is that messages are destroyed immediately after being opened. There is also a map that geolocates its users when the feature is activated.
  
• TikTok: an app launched in 2016 that allows the sharing of videos of all kinds, as it greatly simplifies the editing process. Content is available to all users and has a strong potential for virality.

Better support young people in their use of social networks

The remaining question is therefore, how to better guide our young people through the use of screens and social networks? We must ensure to keep some oversight of the actions our children take online, while preserving the bond of trust we have with them. A real challenge!

Here are some tips and recommendations:

• Ask to be friends with them on social networks, so you can have access to what they share.
• Agree with them that you will check their phone's content from time to time; be careful not to do it excessively.
• Go over with them any inappropriate comments or photos posted on the various networks, if applicable.
• Establish a screen-time schedule with them; several applications allow you to keep control over this if needed.
• If the parents are separated, it is necessary, as much as possible, to ensure consistency in handling this issue between both parents.

If you need help and feel overwhelmed by the situation, do not hesitate to seek help from a professional.

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