The infectious Facebook phenomenon has hit the Syracuse community. People are seen talking about Facebook while enjoying a cup of coffee at Starbucks, http://bit.ly/gEvuMw, while shopping at the Carousel Mall, http://bit.ly/ihTCTW, while on a date at the Regal movies, http://bit.ly/igGJFk, and well just about anyplace else people here in Syracuse hang out. And so a report that some kids may suffer from "Facebook depression" has raised concerns among parents here.
Stephanie Pappas has reported for LiveScience "Today's Kids Face "Facebook Depression"", http://bit.ly/eVXdlb. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics from sexting to "Facebook depression," the online world brings up a host of issues for children and teens. In this report it is recommended that pediatricians talk to their patients, and their patients' parents, about cybersafety, including privacy, anonymity and cyberbullying.
Report author Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe of the AAP's council on communications and media has said "We don't want to demonize the online world or say that social media is bad. What we'd like is for people to slow down a bit and get to know what is happening in kids' lives." And so parents here in Syracuse should note these concerns and work with their kids to play up the positive sides of the online world in order to help them maintain their mental health naturally.
Also this report states a large part of kids' social development now takes place in the online world. And with the Internet we see cyberbullying, teens experimenting sexually by sexting, sending explicit text messages or photos. However, this report lists several benefits of social media, which includes a sense of community and communication among kids. And teens have easy access to reliable health information and sexual education online. Furthermore, social media often acts as a learning tool or a way to collaborate during school projects.
However, now parents and pediatricians have begun to report "Facebook depression," in which a teen becomes anxious and moody after spending a lot of time on the popular social networking site. The kids with "Facebook depression" are usually those who have trouble with social interactions in general, O'Keeffe has said. It can be very distressing when they find that people aren't responding to their posts or accepting their friend requests in the online world either. O'Keeffe has gone on to say "Kids can be insecure in general, so when you take a kid that is having trouble with peers and having trouble to begin with, Facebook can heighten those anxieties to a huge degree."
Parents should discuss these issues with their children. And younger kids should stay with social media sites like Chobots, http://www.chobots.com. Remember, Facebook doesn't allow users under the age of 13, and parents should respect that in the best interest of the emotional well being of their kids. The content which is on Facebook is generally intended for an older audience. And so in order to help the kids of Syracuse stay naturally emotionally healthy these concerns should be discussed with them and positive attitudes about what the Internet and Facebook has to offer should be emphasized.
Photographer: Michal Marcol
Mandel News Service
