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Because the U.S. Supreme Courtroom considers whether or not Congress can ban TikTok, new analysis highlights the well being dangers that prime social media platforms pose to youngsters.
Most 11- and 12-year-olds use TikTok and different social media regardless of the platforms’ age restrictions, and plenty of present indicators of dependancy to social media, a brand new UC San Francisco examine discovered.
TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat require customers to be no less than 13 years outdated to have an account. However the examine discovered {that a} majority of 11- and 12-year-olds throughout the nation have accounts on the platforms, and 6.3% have a social media account they cover from their dad and mom.
The examine contains knowledge from a nationwide pattern of over 10,000 youngsters between the ages of 11 and 15. It seems within the January difficulty of the journal Educational Pediatrics.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Courtroom will hear arguments in opposition to Congress’ ban on TikTok, which is about to take impact Jan. 19. The case facilities on nationwide safety, however researchers encourage lawmakers to contemplate youngsters’s welfare, as nicely.
“Policymakers need to look at TikTok as a systemic social media issue and create effective measures that protect children online,” mentioned Jason Nagata, MD, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Youngsters’s Hospitals and the lead creator of the examine.
“TikTok is the most popular social media platform for children, yet kids reported having more than three different social media accounts, including Instagram and Snapchat.”
In a earlier examine, Nagata discovered that problematic social media use amongst youngsters included parts of dependancy, similar to the shortcoming to cease regardless of attempting, withdrawal, tolerance, battle, and relapse.
Within the present examine, 25% of youngsters with social media accounts reported usually serious about social media apps, and 25% mentioned they use the apps to overlook about their issues; 17% tried to make use of social media much less however could not; and 11% mentioned utilizing social media an excessive amount of had harm their schoolwork.
“Our study revealed a quarter of children reported elements of addiction while using social media, with some as young as eleven years old. The research shows underage social media use is linked with greater symptoms of depression, eating disorders, ADHD, and disruptive behaviors. When talking about social media usage and policies, we need to prioritize the health and safety of our children.”
To handle the damaging impacts of display time and social media on youngsters, the American Academy of Pediatrics has created the Household Media Plan. The plan offers households and youngsters the chance to decide on how they need to schedule their time on-line and offline.
“Every parent and family should have a family media plan to ensure children and adults stay safe online and develop a healthy relationship with screens and social media,” mentioned Nagata, a father of two younger youngsters.
“Parents can create strong relationships with their children by starting open conversations and modeling good behaviors,” he mentioned. “This is something I try to do with my own children.”
Extra data:
Jason M. Nagata et al, Prevalence and Patterns of Social Media Use in Early Adolescents, Educational Pediatrics (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2025.102784
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College of California, San Francisco
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What number of youngsters use TikTok in opposition to the principles? Most, examine finds (2025, January 10)
retrieved 10 January 2025
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