This recent UCLA study about what happens in a teens’ brain when they get a “like” on their photo is very interesting. The researchers looked at brain scans of teenagers while they were looking at “neutral” photos, such as friends having innocent fun, and “risky” photos, that included photos of teens drinking alcohol and wearing sexy clothes.
When teens saw photos with more likes, they were significantly more inclined to like the photo, as well. Does this mean that are kids are spending less time in life trying to form their own opinions? Kids have always been impacted by their peers, but as Lauren Sherman, one of the researchers, noted:
“In the past, teens made their own judgments about how everyone around them was responding, When it comes to likes, there’s no ambiguity.”
In this same study they found that when teenagers looked at risky photos compared with neutral photos, they had less activity in areas associated with “cognitive control.” When the teenagers saw pictures that showed risky behavior, it decreased activity in the regions of their brain that are responsible for putting on the brakes. The real life implications of this have not been fleshed out in studies, but clearly it is important to discuss with our kids.
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about how "likes" (and peers in general) influence our opinions and behaviors:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
This recent UCLA study about what happens in a teens’ brain when they get a “like” on their photo is very interesting. The researchers looked at brain scans of teenagers while they were looking at “neutral” photos, such as friends having innocent fun, and “risky” photos, that included photos of teens drinking alcohol and wearing sexy clothes.
When teens saw photos with more likes, they were significantly more inclined to like the photo, as well. Does this mean that are kids are spending less time in life trying to form their own opinions? Kids have always been impacted by their peers, but as Lauren Sherman, one of the researchers, noted:
“In the past, teens made their own judgments about how everyone around them was responding, When it comes to likes, there’s no ambiguity.”
In this same study they found that when teenagers looked at risky photos compared with neutral photos, they had less activity in areas associated with “cognitive control.” When the teenagers saw pictures that showed risky behavior, it decreased activity in the regions of their brain that are responsible for putting on the brakes. The real life implications of this have not been fleshed out in studies, but clearly it is important to discuss with our kids.
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about how "likes" (and peers in general) influence our opinions and behaviors:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I decided to re-visit this blog from the archives because our last podcast on how to have healthier parent-child conflicts was so popular, that I wanted to provide more help on this same topic. Here, I focus on the powerful parenting approach called the nurtured heart approach. Complimenting this blog, we posted a wonderful podcast episode from our archive that also examines this approach and provides many concrete action steps.
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The current surge in conversation and scrutiny concerning the impact of screen time on youth mental wellbeing, catalyzed by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's media tour for his new book, "Anxious Generation," is truly fantastic. This increased dialogue is crucial for understanding screen time risks and determining the best ways to support our children's mental health. Let’s not let this attention for the need for solutions die down! In today’s blog, I weigh in on four key points Haidt makes to keep the momentum in full swing.
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Snapchat has some pitfalls. I talked to two young adults about things to be aware of when using the app, including exposure to illicit content, the pressure of Snap Scores, and ads for platforms like OnlyFans. I also offer advice on how to help your teen manage their Snapchat usage.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
