Social media platforms allow adolescents to have unprecedented opportunities for social interaction during a critical developmental period when their brains are especially sensitive to social feedback.
Most adolescents feel pressure to be constantly available to their friends through digital means. For boys, this pressure, called digital entrapment, is linked to increases in friendship conflict and feeling less healthy one year later. Image credit: FreePik By Spoorthi Marada For many teens in today’s online world, the pressure to always be available to…
Adolescents’ feelings of gratitude were associated with greater importance placed on meaningful social media conversations. Image credit: FreePik By Lillian Seck When the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced in-person interactions, many people, including teens, turned to social media as an alternative way to connect with peers. A study of U.S. high school students conducted before and…
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, teens felt more socially connected after interacting with peers online. Image credit: Kathy Bugajsky By Ria Sharma During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and school closures drastically limited adolescents’ in-person social interactions but did not curtail their ability to communicate through texting, calling, and social media. A Winston National Center study…
Checking smartphones when waking up overnight keeps teens awake longer. Image credit: Polina Kovaleva By Christian Scott Sleep is essential for healthy adolescent development. However, many adolescents struggle to get the high quality, adequate sleep that they need to thrive. The ever-increasing use of cell phones and other technology, particularly right before bedtime, is a…