Digital Wellness in a Social Media World: Navigating Information, Misinformation, and Mental Health-View Presentation

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The discussion focused on the impact of social media on mental health, especially among children and adolescents, and the initiatives for digital wellness. Dr. Darlene King, Dr. Ashvin Sood, Dr. Howard Liu, and Dr. Nicole Benson shared their insights on navigating information and misinformation through social media. The panelists emphasized the profound effects of social media, highlighting the divide of opinions on its benefits and risks.<br /><br />Key topics included:<br />- The rising use of smartphones and social media among children, with a particular focus on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.<br />- The potential for social media to contribute to mental health issues such as body image concerns and self-diagnosis trends.<br />- Legislative measures and ongoing lawsuits aimed at protecting minors, like COPPA and CASA, were explored to address privacy and mental health concerns.<br />- The idea of digital literacy was emphasized, outlining how healthcare providers can guide children on social media use through motivational interviewing and harm reduction strategies.<br />- Panelists acknowledged the potential benefits of social media, such as fostering connections, nurturing curiosity, collaboration, and helping teens find communities that affirm their identities.<br /><br />They also addressed the challenges of misinformation, discussing the role of platforms in content regulation and misinformation, and suggested that regulation, parental involvement, and clinical insights could help mitigate the negative impact of social media on youth. The session concluded with a call for more thoughtful regulatory measures and increased awareness among parents and educators to safeguard children's digital experiences.

Keywords

social media

mental health

children

adolescents

digital wellness

misinformation

smartphones

body image

digital literacy

motivational interviewing

content regulation

parental involvement