Navigating Social Media Use Among Children

The Surgeon General has released a crucial warning about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, drawing a clear line between excessive social media use and a significant increase in feelings of loneliness. Additionally, they have also emphasized the growing concern over loneliness as a pervasive health issue, not just in the United States, but globally.

Digital platforms have been hailed as tools for connectivity, creating spaces for interaction that defy geographical barriers. Yet, paradoxically, they also foster isolation and loneliness, particularly among the youth. There is an emerging narrative where, despite being ‘connected’, children and adolescents are feeling more alone than ever before.

This increase in loneliness can lead to multiple health issues, both mental and physical. Recent studies have associated chronic loneliness with increased risks of heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline, among others.

One of the main reasons behind this paradox is the nature of interactions on social media. They can be superficial, lacking in emotional depth and genuine connection, which are necessary for nurturing relationships and fostering a sense of belonging.

This doesn’t mean we should eliminate social media altogether. Instead, the focus should be on promoting healthy, balanced use of these platforms and encouraging other activities that foster real connections.

This is where arts and crafts such as crocheting and knitting come into play. The act of creating something with one’s own hands is not just therapeutic; it can also lead to feelings of accomplishment and self-worth. More importantly, when done in a group setting, these activities can serve as a means of creating a sense of community.

Research has shown that group activities like knitting or crocheting can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and increase happiness. They facilitate conversation, empathy, and the sharing of skills, thereby fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. These social knitting groups, or ‘stitch-n-bitch’ groups as they are colloquially known, are becoming increasingly popular as a response to the loneliness epidemic.

A key part of the appeal of these groups lies in their inclusivity. No matter the skill level, age, or background, everyone is welcome. This fosters a sense of belonging, of being part of something greater. Moreover, the act of crafting together, of seeing a project evolve from just a bundle of yarn into something beautiful and useful, can be incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

In conclusion, while we navigate the digital age and its impact on our children, we must balance screen time with real-time, person-to-person connection. Encouraging activities such as group arts and crafts can provide a platform for this. Through these, we can equip our children with the skills to not just combat loneliness but also to actively seek happiness and satisfaction from the world around them. As the Surgeon General’s warning indicates, it is time we take these issues seriously and create space for genuine connections, offline.

Helpful Links:

• Beilock, Sian Leah. “Why Young Americans Are Lonely.” Scientific American, 27 July 2020, www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-young-americans-are-lonely/. 

• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). “New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States.” HHS.Gov, 3 May 2023, www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html. 

• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). “Surgeon General Issues New Advisory about Effects Social Media Use Has on Youth Mental Health.” HHS.Gov, 23 May 2023, www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/23/surgeon-general-issues-new-advisory-about-effects-social-media-use-has-youth-mental-health.html.