Exploring the Dilemmas of the Digital Age through Adolescence

adolescence

(🚩 This section includes spoilers)

The British series Adolescence has resonated globally, addressing the phenomenon of distorted values among adolescents due to prolonged exposure to inappropriate online content. It profoundly reveals the current societal crisis.

The story centers on 13-year-old Jamie Miller, arrested for the alleged murder of a classmate. The audience gradually uncovers the motivations behind Jamie's actions through interviews with classmates, dialogues between Jamie and a psychologist, and glimpses into his loving, yet grassroots, family background. These motivations stem from significant influences: the online manosphere, toxic masculinity, incel culture, rejection by a female classmate, and social media bullying.

Stephen Graham, the writer and actor portraying Jamie's father, expressed sorrow in an interview about recent UK news of adolescent stabbings. He reflected on the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child", adding, "Well, I just thought, what if we’re all accountable? The education system, parenting, the community, the government."

Graham emphasized the digital age's impact, stating that young people's easy access to a multitude of online ideas profoundly affects their mindset: "maybe we're all accountable, and we should have a conversation about it."

digital well-being

Digital World and Youth

The series illuminates the silent struggles of an entire generation. As digital landscapes evolve, the growth of young people becomes intricately woven into the online world. They navigate the pressures of social media and peer influence while embarking on journeys of self-exploration and identity. Today’s youth spend more time than ever online, seeking direction, immersing themselves in a rich variety of viewpoints, and yearning for inspiration. Through this unfolding process, they gradually forge their own values and shape their worldview.

Whether it’s making friends, sharing life moments, or discussing various issues and news, young people are increasingly reliant on messaging apps and social platforms for communication. The comments spread by influencers and peers deeply affect them, creating ripples within their social circles that can stifle self-expression, burying qualities and uniqueness that are waiting to be discovered. Popular algorithms further contribute to the echo chamber effect, continually presenting content that aligns with their existing interests, while neglecting to expose them to a broader range of perspectives.

Researchers at Yale University have found that teenagers who spend the most time in the digital realm are statistically more likely to experience internalising issues, such as anxiety, fear, suppression, and despair, two years later. As the digital environment becomes a lasting part of our lives, it’s essential to actively nurture digital well-being, manage screen time effectively, and engage in critical ignoring practices.

critical ignorance

What is Digital Well-being?

In today’s tech-driven world, we’re all learning how to use technology wisely without letting it take control of our lives. Achieving digital well-being means enjoying the benefits of technology while minimizing its negative effects on our everyday lives.

Before exploring how to cultivate digital well-being, consider reflecting on your own digital habits through the following questions:

How much time did I spend online in the past week? What activities occupied that time? (e.g. social media, entertainment videos, work, communicating with friends and family, learning and studying)
What triggers my use of electronic devices? (e.g. feelings of anxiety or loneliness, boredom, notifications)
What feelings and impacts do these digital interactions bring me?
Overall, does the digital world make me feel more productive and motivated? Do I gain more information and inspiration, and build more connections? Or do I experience reduced attention, decreased activity, and increased stress?

By reviewing our digital habits, we can maintain awareness of the content we consume. Before browsing, take a moment to consider: Is this something I genuinely want to watch? If it's a 20-minute video, would I prefer to spend that time on other content or activities?

If you choose to watch it, reflect afterward: Is my time well spent on this content? Has it impacted my emotions in any way? Is it beneficial to me?

Through these simple reflections, we can gradually establish digital literacy, critically evaluating the impact of content on ourselves. This practice helps us develop the ability to discern what content is suitable for us and effectively manage our screen time.

digital detox

Tips on Managing Your Screen Time

Curate Your Digital Environment: When we immerse ourselves in the digital world, our thoughts seem to enter a virtual realm. We can consciously create our digital environment by choosing credible content that aligns with our values, interests, and goals, thereby fostering personal growth.
Establish Clear Boundaries for When and Where to Use: Establish clear limits on the time spent using electronic devices, such as two hours per day or avoiding phones during dinner. Designate specific areas for device use, like making your bed a "no-phone zone".
Utilize Support Tools: Make use of features like Screen Time on your phone to understand your usage patterns and set limits for different apps. Pay attention to settings on social media platforms, such as Instagram, where you can set daily usage limits.
Plan Alternative Activities: Pre-plan offline activities to prevent mindless browsing when faced with anxiety, boredom, or notifications. Take some time to understand yourself- your preferences, strengths, and values. Explore and learn about related interests, whether it's cooking, a foreign language, a sport, gardening, or listening to podcasts. What might initially seem like idle time can become enriching, helping us grow into better individuals.

Tackling Information Overload with Critical Ignoring

In addition to consciously selecting valuable and enriching content, we can also intentionally ignore unhelpful material by practicing "critical ignoring". This approach allows us to choose what to overlook, directing our limited attention toward valuable content. Here are three ways to implement critical ignoring:

Self-Nudging: Understand how addictive social media or misleading information negatively impacts you, such as causing mood swings or feelings of sadness. Actively choose to ignore such content to create a healthier digital environment.
Lateral Reading: When encountering questionable information, avoid digging deeper into that content. Instead, open a new tab and verify it through other sources. Research the author, publishing organization, or other relevant information while consciously ignoring sources with dubious credibility.
Do Not Feed the Trolls: Individuals engaging in malicious online behavior, such as spreading false information and making harassing or insulting comments, can confuse, anger, or upset us. When you come across emotionally charged content, take a moment to observe your thoughts and feelings. Reflect on the content's impact on you and consider its motives. Remember, you have the power to choose not to respond, thereby preventing the proliferation of harmful content.

flourishing

Adolescence reminds us that social issues are intertwined, with each individual shaping this chaotic world. As the disorder of the online realm seeps into our reality, our greatest task may be to hold onto clarity, ensuring that the flood of information does not drown our sense of self. "The mind is everything. What you think, you become". By nurturing our hearts, we safeguard our inner world and cultivate a healthier mental landscape.

Want to learn more about digital well-being and how to reduce the impact of screen time on your mental health? Check out our new "Daily Self-Care" digital well-being module. This series includes four mini-courses covering cultivating gratitude, self-care for caregivers, digital well-being practices, and understanding your own needs, all designed to help you develop healthy self-care habits.

References:

Kozyreva, A., Wineburg, S., Lewandowsky, S., & Hertwig, R. (2023). Critical Ignoring as a Core Competence for Digital Citizens. Current directions in psychological science, 32(1), 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214221121570

Marc Potenza. (2023). Study Probes Connection Between Excessive Screen Media Activity and Mental Health Problems in Youth. Yale School of Medicine. https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/yale-study-probes-connection-between-excessive-screen-media-activity-and-mental-health-problems-in-youth/

United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

Gregory Jantz. (2022). Strategies for Healthy Social Media Use. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hope-relationships/202202/strategies-healthy-social-media-use

Marina Heifetz. (2024). Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/raising-mindful-kids/202405/social-media-use-and-youth-mental-health