Kids becoming online addicts: Media without the “social” part

We must prioritize getting children off screens — and that doesn’t just refer to social media.

We have devoted a significant amount of time, rightfully so, to worrying about children on the internet, frequently discussing the negative impact of social media on kids and teenagers.

Social media usage increases anxiety, can lead to bullying, and can expose children to physical danger when they interact with unknown individuals.

We are well aware of the risks: reduced attention spans, predators, an obsession with photographing food before consuming it, children identifying themselves as “influencers” — parents have been on alert for all of these issues.

However, while we have been focused on how kids interact with each other online, children have altered their internet usage habits.

They are no longer using social media primarily for socializing but are essentially carrying a portable TV with them at all times of the day and night.

They are using their phones for entertainment rather than connection — even when they are physically present with friends or engaged in activities that should be amusing.

Observe children or teenagers using their phones and you’ll notice them constantly swiping without interacting, taking selfies, or even photographing meals.

This is what I call the TikTok effect.

TikToks are short videos that can feature dances, jokes, or observations.

The app offers “millions of personalized short videos,” delivered to you in an endless stream by a computer algorithm.

If you enjoy watching cooking, the algorithm will show you food-related videos.

If, like my husband, you find humor in watching people trip or walk into glass panes, you’ll be served those videos until you’re doubled over on the floor, laughing hysterically at someone else’s misfortune.

However, the style and addictiveness of TikTok are not exclusive to that app anymore — a fact that many parents seem to overlook.

Instagram and YouTube have adopted the TikTok model in the form of Reels and Shorts, respectively: the same concept on a different platform.

While TikTok may be particularly concerning due to its well-known Chinese propaganda and spying capabilities, other apps have successfully incorporated the same addictive qualities for their own purposes.

I’m not against technology. Who doesn’t scroll on their phone while waiting in line or for an appointment?

However, the obsessive consumption by our children is a different matter. It has become common to see kids and teenagers watching videos side by side at the beach or playground, their eyes glazed over, continuously swiping.

When we were kids, many of us spent Saturday mornings watching cartoons for hours. However, we eventually turned off the TV and went to spend time with friends. We didn’t bring along our favorite TV shows to entertain us individually during playtime.

Children no longer have that break.

While we have been monitoring the dangers of social media, we failed to notice that kids have abandoned the social aspect altogether.

In 2023, YouTube recorded 1.35 trillion visits, a recent study revealed, accounting for 68% of the total visits to the top 10 social media sites last year.

As YouTube CEO Neal Mohan mentioned, the site is “a place where you come to consume . . . rather than to connect with your friends.”

In other words, it provides media consumption but lacks social interaction.

If nearly 70% of visits to social media sites are unrelated to socializing, we might have been focusing on the wrong issue: Social media may be harmful to children, but this new media is turning them anti-social.

Studies show that teenagers spend almost five hours online every day, and it’s not surprising — this binge-watching of short entertainment clips is highly addictive.

The algorithm continues to recommend increasingly captivating videos, and children keep swiping.

One study focusing on adolescent TikTok or Instagram Reels usage documented various signs of addiction, including spending more time on the platforms than intended, experiencing negative social consequences, withdrawal symptoms, and distress when access to the platforms was restricted.

“What can we do?” many parents ask. “It’s just the way things are now.”

Not entirely. It’s a new world, yes, but that new world can still have boundaries.

Consider providing your kids with a more analog lifestyle.

This doesn’t mean banning screens completely, but perhaps restricting screen time in public. No screens during playdates, car rides, or meals, and no watching videos alone when with friends.

(I understand, enforcing phone use limits can be challenging, especially at the beginning. But it’s true that most serious parenting advice is easier said than done.)

This is a reasonable, social behavior that shouldn’t be controversial to enforce.

One could argue that adults engage in similar behaviors.

Indeed, adults who struggle with relationships and social interactions might watch these short videos — often without headphones — in public settings.

If you don’t want your kids to grow up to be like those individuals, teaching them how to handle boredom must begin now.

Socializing is beneficial. Constant media consumption is not.

Karol Markowicz is the author of the book “Stolen Youth.”