Will Legislation for Teens and Social Media Solve the Mental Health Crisis?
Meeting our kids and teens where they are and the unnecessary fear media causes.
Just this week the New York Post’s cover story featured this terrifying graph:
And this is just the most recent chart.
I have many quibbles with this chart: First, the citation is VERY vague. I and some colleagues have tried to track down the data to replicate it and it is not easily done. We’ve found the overall survey but it is large and the source of the questions are not clear.
Second, the vertical axis is zoomed in to look more dramatic than it is— a minor quibble.
Third, how does this compare to other questions in the source survey? Overall it is laid out to support the argument that social media is causing these rises. Nevermind that social media is older than 2015.
Of course, there are other sources on the other side like my own work, this recent Atlantic article, “No One Knows Exactly What Social Media is Doing to Teens.” and even The Washington Post and The New York Times.
(Fun fact: Jean Twenge, the source for the above graph, was asked on Ezra Klein’s podcast to respond to research I did with my colleague about the historical context of suicide and self harm data–it was actually much higher in the 1970s to 1990s–and I didn’t think her answer provided much of an alternate explanation).
Long story short: We're just not sure if there is a connection between social media use and negative mental health trends.
That can feel overwhelming, but don’t despair! Fortunately, we don’t have to figure it out for all of society. All we have to do is focus on what’s right for your family and those in your care. The media reports are dire, there are too many studies for a full-time analyst to read, let alone a busy parent.
Here are some tips that help me as I think through this issue.
First, know that this is not the first time that experts have expressed concerns about new technologies and kids.
Of course this does not mean that there isn’t anything to be concerned about, but historical context can help us understand that people have felt just as strongly about technologies we take for granted. For instance, there were significant concerns about children using bicycles, the novel, comic books, radio, television, and video games. There’s a history of youth safety online and youth safety and new technology. It’s still early days for us and mobile connectivity. The smartphone was only released in 2007. Culture’s change and adapt, we learn.
Second, know there are plenty of tools that you can utilize for the kids and teens in your home to make internet and social media use safe.
The tools have been there for a long time, but, in my experience, parents and caregivers haven’t been aware of them. If there’s one good thing to come from this heightened panic about minors and social media it’s that the large tech companies are finally putting real money behind awareness campaigns.
Tools abound from routers to apps, software, basic phones, smartphones, and more. There are also organizations devoted to educating parents, caregivers, teens, and kids about online and social media safety. My colleagues and I at the CGO made a toolkit of sorts for parents and one for teens and parents.
Third, legislation and regulation for social media likely won’t solve the mental health crisis–to the extent there’s even a connection.
Nonetheless, policymakers are active. They read these same stories. In May 2023, Tech Policy Press counted 144 bills in the states. The issue of social media and teens has been addressed by the President, regulatory agencies, and there are multiple bills in Congress. They are paying attention. Ideas range from banning teen use of social media without parental consent, like Utah and Arkansas have begun to implement, to ending encryption like the EARN IT Act.
The best bill I’ve seen comes from Florida, and it mandated digital literacy and safety courses in public schools. That’s a great example of a policy that empowers the kids and teens themselves as well as families, caregivers, and individuals.
Policymakers should use their platform to fill in knowledge gaps and empower parents, caregivers, and teens. Policymakers, as representatives of their constituents, don't always have to craft policy. They can listen and share publicly the solutions they learn about.
One benefit to states like Utah and Arkansas passing laws that restrict teens’ use of social media is that we will hopefully get to see how well those efforts work or not when it comes to mental health. Unfortunately, as far as I know, none of the proponents of these laws have a prediction about the size of the impact. Presumptively, the benefits should be large enough to warrant any costs the laws might impose. Right now, that is unclear. Therefore, even if there’s a direct connection between social media and negative mental health trends, it’s not clear if these laws will be effectively lower the increasing rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, etc. There are dozens of variables that do affect mental health but know one knows for sure how big an effect social media has among all the variables.
Fundamentally, that leaves the problem solving to us, which is really the ideal place to help those around us in need of assistance on these matters. The tools I’ve outlined above are hopefully a help to you.
To sum it all up in one tip, it is “Ask questions.” The most common recommendation from all the organizations and books I’ve come across on this topic is to ask questions. Ask the kids and teens in your life what they enjoy about the internet, the social media platforms they use, who they like to communicate with, the games they play, and then visit those sites or play those games yourself. Ask questions and then dive in. All of these games and tools are very accessible with a little bit of time. This will build trust and build a relationship. With both trust and relationship, help can be provided when needed.
Meeting our kids and teens where they’re at is something a government can never do as well as we can.
On The Podcast: Click to listen! —> 4 Years After the Paralysis: Rachel Interviews Taylor
The month of June is when we remember our biggest milestones— 7 years ago we got married and 4 years ago Rachel was diagnosed with the tumor, paralyzed, and received life-saving surgery. Usually, Rachel is speaking to this experience, but we flipped the script and Rachel interviewed Taylor about what it has been like to be a spouse on this journey. Rachel asks what the diagnosis was like for him, how he processed disability and some caregiving, and what impact it all had on his faith journey.
What We’re Reading/ Listening To This Week:
What Can Help Keep Kids Safe Online? Ideas for Parents and Policymakers panel event at the Cato Institute featuring Taylor
Why AI Will Save the World by Marc Andreessen
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
Raising Boys and Girls Podcast: The Truth About How to Get Parenting Right
The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card by Christina Wallace
In Between Dub album by Jack Johnson