TMCnet News
Facebook can stress kids, especially if self-esteem already lowApr 17, 2011 (Winston-Salem Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Facebook is an entrenched part of many teens' lives, but local psychologists and counselors say parents and kids should beware of bullying, excessive amounts of time spent online and the phenomenon called "Facebook depression." Most teens said in interviews that they don't think they've felt depressed or pressured over how many Facebook friends they acquire. Most said they think the social media website is beneficial to them. But there are unique aspects of Facebook that can make it a particularly tough social landscape to navigate for youngsters, especially those already dealing with low self-esteem, said Gwenn O'Keeffe, a Boston-area pediatrician and lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics social media guidelines published recently. Facebook features tallies of how many friends a person has, status updates and photos of happy-looking people having great times. Some young people can get upset if they think they don't measure up. Researchers disagree on whether those feelings are simply an extension of depression some youngsters already are experiencing or a distinct condition linked to using the site. Elizabeth Carroll, a clinical psychologist in Winston-Salem, said she has treated many teens who have had "psychologically disastrous experiences" after they spent time on Facebook. Some girls have been harassed by male friends they met on Facebook, Carroll said. Teens also have encountered problems when they land many friends on Facebook but don't realize that they are just names on a list, not their true friends. "They think having many friends will enhance their self-esteem," Carroll said. "They don't know many of these people." But these so-called friends can post hurtful comments about the youngsters, she said. "On Facebook and the Internet in general, there is no sense of ownership," Carroll said. Mija Paul, 18, a senior at Reynolds High School, said he had positive experiences with Facebook but stopped visiting the website in November so he could devote more time to his schoolwork. Paul said he didn't suffer any depression while using Facebook, but he said others might have. He spent about three hours a day after school on the social site, and he amassed 900 friends. "Many people put pictures of their clothes, jewelry and cars online," he said. "Other people online don't have these things, and they could get depressed over it." Oscar Marcial, 13, who attends Hanes Magnet School, said he spends only about two hours online once every two weeks or so. "My friends on Facebook have a lot more friends than I do," Marcial said. He said he plans to spend more time online and post more pictures of himself so his friend list will expand. Marcial's time online is much less than many teens spend on Facebook, research shows. O'Keeffe's study mentioned a poll showing that 22 percent of teenagers logged on to their favorite social media site more than 10 times a day, and more than half of adolescents use a social media site more than once a day. "The intensity of the online world is thought to be a factor that may trigger depression in some adolescents," the study said. Olivia Dunivandt, 14, an eighth-grader at Walkertown Middle School, said she spends about two hours on the site, checking in two to three times a day. She has more than 600 friends online. Christy Buchanan, a professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, said some teens spend too much time -- up to nine hours a day -- on Facebook. She recommends that young people spend no more than two to three hours a day on the website. Dunivandt said she has positive experiences while using Facebook, and she has never felt depressed when she was online. "You get to meet new people around the area," she said. "And you see pictures of their lifestyles." Holly Myrick, 17, a junior at West Stokes High School in King, said she has used Facebook for a year and has about 350 friends. She is concerned that some teens get bullied on Facebook. "People are just mean, and they post rude things," Myrick said. "I don't think these comments are called for." Mike Haynes, a psychologist with Pathways Counseling, said bullying is a problem online. "A lot of kids get bullied on Facebook; it is relentless when it happens," Hayes said. "People just follow someone else who is taunting others. That opens the door and gives them permission to do so, too." Susan Dobyns, a psychotherapist and pastoral counselor, said if teens recognize bullying comments on Facebook and they do nothing about it, "this means you are passively approving (them)." Bullying comments should be deleted as quickly as possible, or perhaps positive comments could be posted alongside them, she said. "When bullying is witnessed by others, speaking up in a positive manner is well worth the time and energy," Dobyns said. [email protected] (336) 727-7299 [email protected] (336) 727-7389 The Associated Press contributed to this story. To see more of the Winston-Salem Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.journalnow.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Winston-Salem Journal, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |