Study Shows that Addressing Kids’ Social Media Addiction Requires Society-Wide Efforts, Beyond Just Implementing Class Bans

July 12, 2024 TruthUSA

A new study on social media addiction among children suggests that classroom cellphone bans offer only temporary solutions and a more comprehensive approach is necessary to address the issue.

The Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) study highlights the adoption of policies in seven provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.

Paul Bennett, director of the Schoolhouse Institute and author of the study published on July 11, expressed that school-imposed restrictions to combat mobile device attachment and social media dependence have limited efficacy.

“Banning cellphones in classrooms is proving to be a temporary solution,” Mr. Bennett wrote. “Social media addiction and the obsession with mobile devices are deeply ingrained in modern life and difficult to eliminate through school-based bans.”

The study points out that the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 gave rise to a new “smartphone generation.” By January 2024, nearly one in five Canadians belong to this demographic.

The MLI raised concerns about the rapid replacement of television by mobile phones and tablets as children’s primary sources of entertainment. They referenced a study showing a significant increase in mobile device usage among children up to age 8, from 38 percent in 2011 to 72 percent in 2013.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children in Canada, the United States, and globally saw a notable rise in screen time. Screen time for children aged 6 to 12 reached an all-time high of 13 hours per day in the initial months of the pandemic, and while it has decreased somewhat since then, it remains above pre-pandemic levels, as per the study.

While social media dependency has not been classified as a clinical addiction by mental health authorities, it is recognized as a significant generational concern, according to the MLI study. Excessive social media use has been flagged as a key area for emerging research by the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, underscoring the necessity for further investigation and intervention.

Policy Recommendations

A recent Leger survey indicated a shift in Canadian public opinion towards smartphone use in schools, with over 90 percent supporting restrictions. Mr. Bennett proposes integrating these concerns into a national child and youth mental health strategy, including a comprehensive public health study on social media addiction among Canadian school-age children.

He calls on Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer and Health Canada to collaborate with provincial public health authorities to recognize social media addiction as an urgent mental health issue and explore the possibility of placing “warning labels” on social media platforms. The strategy also advocates for a nationwide effort to pursue legal action against social media giants for the harm inflicted on children and teenagers.

The study offers age-specific guidelines for smartphone use, suggesting a phone-free environment in schools up to Grade 6, education on online safety, and evidence-based curricula to promote positive behavior. Parents are encouraged to limit social media during leisure time and use safer communication tools, along with implementing mechanisms to block harmful online content.

For adolescents aged 13 to 17, phone-free classrooms, strict limits on cellphone use on school grounds, a system-wide phone lock-up policy, increased physical education, mental health programs, counseling services, and initiatives to address excessive mobile device use and social media addiction are recommended.

Individuals aged 18 to 24 should adhere to responsible use guidelines when using mobile devices in educational settings, engage in research on the impact of excessive social media use on post-secondary students, establish new norms for mobile phone etiquette, and access support programs for social media addiction.

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