CLEVELAND — Studies show that over the past several years – or basically since the invention of the smartphone – more teens are suffering from depression and anxiety.
Doctors at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital say they preach research showing social media and smart tech, especially at night, increases insomnia, feelings of anxiety and worry.
Even though your kids are connecting online, social media increases their disconnect, and they can feel like they’re missing out.
But as we’ve all heard, connecting face to face increases mood and overall happiness. So what do we do?
Dr. Molly McVoy says it’s up to parents to set boundaries.
“If I follow the rules of the day, get my homework done and once that is done I know I can have the phone and then I also know that at my house at 9:30 or 10 o’clock, I plug it in the kitchen and I go to bed.’
Dr. McVoy says parents need to stress to kids that your phone is not a right, it’s something that you earn. If you give in just to avoid a tantrum or fight, you’re doing your child a disservice.
She says teen drama is the same as when we were young. The only difference is now your child has access to that peer he or she is fighting with.
So they are waking up in the middle of the night to answer texts or comments. This increases mental health issues.
It’s suggested that even parents should put their phone in the kitchen at night to show they are all in this as a family.