According to the study conducted by San Francisco (UCSF) at the University of California, as social media usage period increases, there is an increase in symptoms of depression in children. In the study conducted for three years, children’s daily use of social media reportedly rose from 7 minutes to 73 minutes. In the same period, symptoms of depression increased by 35 percent. Dr. Jason Nagata has been discussed for a long time whether social media contributes to depression or only reflects existing depressive symptoms. Our findings provide evidence that social media can contribute to the development of depression, ”he said.
The research is one of the rare studies that follow the individual changes of children over time. Approximately 12 thousand children, 9-10 years of age was followed until the age of 12-13. Nagata and his team, in a separate study examining the same group of participants, 11-12-year-old children were exposed to cyber bullying if they were exposed to cyber bullying, the risk of suicide thought or attempt within a year increased 2.6 times. It was seen that these children were more likely to start substance use.
Researchers say that children face a difficult balance in using social media. On the one hand, while the connection of social media with depression and risky behaviors, on the other hand, these platforms continue to be an important area where children communicate with their friends.
Dr. Nagata emphasized that parents should be an example with a clear and non -judicial communication, “As a father, I know that it is not effective to say ‘leave your phone’ only ‘to the phone.
