A survey conducted by CAMPE found that nearly half of respondents reported noticing mental instability in children, with other common issues including inattention to education, unruly behavior, device addiction, fearfulness, panic, and a sense of insecurity among children. To address these concerns, the organization recommends that parents adopt a supportive approach, limit mobile use, and encourage participation in local sports and cultural activities.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/education/news/primary-school-children-37pc-want-skip-classes-3772526Oxford University Press has named "brain rot" as its Word of the Year for 2024, highlighting growing concerns about the negative effects of excessive social media use and the proliferation of low-quality online content. The term is thought to capture the idea that prolonged exposure to such content can lead to a decline in mental acuity and critical thinking skills.
YouTube has rolled out restrictions on videos that idealize certain fitness levels or weight groups, socially aggressive content, and repeated recommendations of videos that may be problematic for teenagers. The new rule is aimed at preventing teens from forming negative beliefs about themselves. YouTube will limit repeated recommendations of videos that compare and idealise physical features, are socially aggressive, or promote unhealthy behaviors. This is part of a broader effort to address concerns over the impact of social media on young people's mental health and well-being. The restrictions are being implemented in Europe and around the world, following guidance from YouTube's youth and family advisory committee.
https://www.euronews.com/health/2024/09/07/youtube-will-begin-limiting-access-to-fitness-videos-for-european-teens-heres-whyThe excessive use of smartphones by today's children is leading to social isolation, according to experts. This issue has been linked to a range of negative effects, including Computer Vision Syndrome, which can cause eye strain and discomfort. Additionally, prolonged smartphone use has been shown to have serious impacts on the spine, skin, sleep patterns, mental stress levels, and self-confidence in children.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/lifestyle/know-how-smartphone-addiction-impacts-physical-health-sleep-and-mental-well-being-a510/The Oxford University Press has declared "brain rot" as the Word of the Year for 2024, highlighting growing concerns about the impact of excessive consumption of trivial content on social media on mental well-being. Psychologist Daphne Clarance shares her concerns that this phenomenon affects both children and adults, leading to a decline in mental abilities due to the constant exposure to low-quality online content. The term "brain rot" suggests that excessive scrolling through social media leaves little room for better brain health, contributing to a range of negative effects on mental well-being.
https://indiatoday.in/health/story/brain-rot-is-oxford-word-of-the-year-leads-to-reduced-attention-span-2645998-2024-12-07The younger generations, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are particularly vulnerable to anxiety and low self-esteem due to their constant exposure to screens from a young age. According to Peer, this is because their brains are still developing and are being trained to avoid deep thinking as they spend more time on devices. This can lead to habits such as doomscrolling, social comparison, and isolation, which further exacerbate these issues.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/long-reads/from-straight-a-student-to-digital-addict-how-alarming-rise-of-brain-rot-is-rewiring-young-mindBillie Eilish has expressed her struggles with social media, comparing its addictive nature to smoking. In an interview with Complex on December 5, the 22-year-old singer revealed that she often finds herself getting "sucked in" while browsing online, feeling stuck and unable to disconnect from it.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/578128-billie-eilish-compares-social-media-habit-to-this-bad-addictionActress Keira spoke about the challenges of being a young woman in the public eye, citing the loss of privacy and intense scrutiny as particularly difficult during her teenage years. She noted that social media has exacerbated these issues for younger girls entering the industry today, highlighting the damaging effects on their mental health.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1258710-keira-knightley-pays-price-of-fame-after-pirates-of-caribbean-successResearchers at MIT have found that people struggling with mental health issues are more likely to browse negative content online, which in turn worsens their symptoms. A study of over 1,000 participants showed that those who already had mental health symptoms were more likely to seek out and view negative or fearful content, leading to a vicious feedback loop. The researchers developed a web plug-in tool called "Digital Diet" to help individuals make informed decisions about the content they view online. The tool scores search engine results in three categories: emotion, knowledge, and actionability, with the goal of helping users avoid negative content and improve their mental health.
https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-browsing-negative-content-online-makes-mental-health-struggles-worse-1205