Colorado Charter School Institute’s Post

#smartphonefreechildhood #parentpower ❗ Such an important subject 💯 Not only are smartphones harming children's experience of childhood but they are also directly contributing to the increase in mental health issues and insecurities in the under 16s. This movement is not just about our children, it's about society in general. As a mother of two young children I am so glad this is being talked about and fully support this campaign. More information can be found below, please do follow, like and share their posts to gain momentum for this movement. 🔵 The problem https://lnkd.in/eA-8gmwm 🔵 Resources including some alternatives https://lnkd.in/eS7nuGcN

As a parent, hearing this talk by Jonathan Haidt about the impact of smartphones and social media on Gen Z's mental health was alarming. With the rise of digital engagement since the 2010s, there's been a sharp increase in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among young people. Statistics show emergency room visits for self-harm in girls aged 10-14 nearly tripled from 2008 to 2015. The transition from a play-based to a phone-based childhood around 2010 has not only affected mental health but also led to declines in social skills and academic performance. For instance, the data presented showed a clear decline in face-to-face interactions among teenagers as smartphones became ubiquitous, with reported feelings of loneliness and isolation increasing alongside. The stark increase in mental health issues among Gen Z, paralleled with the advent of smartphones and social media, underscores a pressing need for thoughtful consideration on how we can evolve our educational frameworks, parenting approaches, and policies. (One tip: don't let your kids use social media until they're at least 14 years old, and build solidarity with other parents to mitigate peer pressure.) It's clear that nurturing our children's well-being in today's digital age requires us to foster environments that prioritize mental health and genuine connection. Let's collaboratively explore and implement accessible strategies that safeguard the future for younger generations and empower them to foster behaviors that lead to building mental resilience. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/euthhDws

📢 Check out Dr. Michael Rich's insightful interview with PBS NewsHour on the complex relationship between #smartphones, #socialmedia, and adolescent #mentalhealth. In addressing the current conversation about how to support kids' wellbeing in a digital environment, Dr. Rich notes "What we really need to do is help our children of any age use these powerful tools in ways that are healthy, smart and kind." 🔗 Watch the interview here to learn more: https://ow.ly/uJC250SjZ5J

IS SOCIAL MEDIA HARMING YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH?   This question has crossed my mind more than once, especially as I observe my six-year-old's response to social media mechanisms targeting children, in seemingly innocent platforms such as YouTube Kids. Like millions of other parents, I find myself navigating the complex world of technology with a somewhat lenient approach to computer, tablet, and smartphone use. For those facing similar challenges, I strongly recommend taking a few minutes to listen to an insightful episode of Hard Fork addressing this very topic.   Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt suggests that smartphones and social media are major contributors to the rising mental health issues among young people, especially young girls. He offers four potential solutions that he hopes will become new societal norms:   1. Restrict smartphones for kids until high school. He suggests providing kids with a regular flip-phone if it is really needed at all. 2. Delay access to social media until age 16. By removing the pressure to join these platforms early, kids can engage in real-world activities and hobbies, becoming trendsetters for a healthier digital lifestyle. 3. Implement phone-free policies in schools and classrooms. Schools should prioritize creating environments focused on social interaction and learning, rather than digital distractions. 4.    Encourage more unsupervised free play for kids. It's essential for parents to resist the urge to over protect and pamper,  allowing children the freedom to explore and grow independently.   By adopting these measures, we can work towards safeguarding the well-being of our young people in an increasingly digital world.   Do you agree?

Feeling the weight of the digital age on our youth? Yup. Thought-provoking piece by Helen Coffey (The Independent), uncovering the #MentalHealth crisis triggered by smartphones and social media. Beyond the article's insights and recommendations (last paragraph), what solutions can we explore? https://bit.ly/4aoalxN

I wish to recommend to anybody working with, or educating, children, that they watch this presentation at EIE23 (a national summit on education that took place in Atlanta in August, 2023) by Jonathan Haidt. It discusses his hypothesis on the possible role of social media on the worsening in mental health of teens that has been a trend since around 2013 when these media were suddenly put in the hands of millions of kids. He discusses how girls were in particular negatively impacted. It gives recommendations for legislature, families and schools, but it might also inform our recommendations, even if just cautious ones, in evaluations or other clinical work with child clients, and give any of you educators recommendations for school policies that might improve teen mental health. Apparently (no news here) boys were already retreating in large numbers into computers and then video games in the 1980s through 2000s, but then addiction to social media and smartphones reduced attention in school, decreased developmentally required play time, increased exposure to adult influences that never existed so dramatically before which easily drowned out whatever influences parents had, reduced children's sleep time, diminished opportunities to develop adaptive and interpersonal skills, and, as he argues, there were/are other costs. He recommends no smartphones until 14 (flip phones for texting until then are fine), no social media until 16, and other recommendations for families, schools and legislators. This presentation gives an excellent overview of his forthcoming book on this topic called The Anxious Generation.

Are smartphones reshaping childhood, or are they just a modern necessity? NBC News's Angela Yang dives into the debate with Jonathan Haidt's latest book, "The Anxious Generation." Haidt argues that the rise of smartphones is contributing to a mental health crisis among young people, sparking both support and criticism. Haidt suggests solutions like delaying smartphone use until high school, avoiding social media until age 16, and promoting real-world play. But not everyone agrees. Critics argue that blaming social media overlooks deeper issues. Join the conversation on the impacts of technology on mental health. It's time to explore the complexities and find evidence-based solutions. #MentalHealthMatters #BLHF #SmartPhones #TeenMentalHealth #CurrentNews