Social media can make it harder for teens to discover who they want to be. Banning it until age 16 is a good idea

In recent months, many politicians supported connections ban social media for children under 16 in Australia. Currently, children under 13 are not allowed to apply social media.

There is research to suggest that social media can be helpful for some youthful people, for example by connecting them with like-minded peers.

That said, there are many reasons for this proposed change. The most compelling is evidence showing inadequate screen time AND using social media are associated with penniless mental health in children and adolescents, including Depression and anxiety.

Excessive or inappropriate social media apply can harm many areas of mental well-being. However, as an expert in adolescent development, I have studied one that is not often considered: Identity development.

Identity development has long been considered a fundamental field of psychological activity. from puberty. You decide who you are, who you want to become, what your core values ​​are, and what you want out of life as you move toward adulthood. But could social media threaten to thwart that process?

Developing an identity

Between the ages of 11 and 15, a person’s brain becomes more and more sensitive to attention and feedback from peers. The parts of the brain responsible for developing perspective, judgment, critical thinking, and self-control don’t fully mature until age 20.

Teens have always compared themselves to others. They seek validation from their peers as they discover their values, develop their personalities, and seek to express themselves. However, social media has provided a platform for teens—especially those with high FOMO, or fear of missing out on something – obsessively think about how they compare to many other people, including the aptly named “influencers.”

It may be challenging for a youthful person to develop a clear sense of self-worth if they are constantly comparing themselves to and imitating others.

Similarly, youthful people form many of their opinions based on what they see on social media. The tendency for an individual to conform to other people’s opinions is sometimes called “snowball effect”.

While much of the content on social media may be harmless, social media – just like in the real world – are becoming more and more political and polarizedwithout tolerating opposing ideas.

Some teenagers may cling to ideologies that are taught to them through Marketing algorithms. And we know that youthful people may radicalize via social media.

Life in the public sphere

Who are you? How do you see yourself? Are you the same person in public, in private, with friends, family or at work? Would you honestly admit your deepest feelings to a colleague, friend or even a partner? What about yourself?

Harry Triandis, a psychology researcher who died in 2019, proposed differences between the “public” and “private” self that we are all embodimentMost people are able to keep their true opinions and values ​​to themselves when they are in public or with unfamiliar groups of people.

Once we are sure that our way of speaking and the value systems that underlie it will not be misinterpreted, we will start appear piece by piece. This process is the basis of friendship. And it is only in our most intimate relationships that we reveal ourselves fully.

Ask yourself what embarrassing beliefs you have cultivated throughout your life, especially during adolescence when your brain was still developing? Maybe you had some stereotypes or prejudices that you now find embarrassing?

Your private self is the foundation for peaceful reflection, learning, and changing your mind. But we now see teenagers who spend their entire lives in the public sphere—essentially skipping that step.

Not only do they form many of their opinions based on what they see on social media, but they often broadcast them online immediately. They may later be forced to defend those ideas.

In the 24/7 virtual world, today’s teen has fewer opportunities to think critically about what they see online, to self-reflect, to explore, and to change their minds. There is little room to make mistakes, test boundaries, explore ideas, and analyze information to shape their own identity.

These concerns are among the reasons why many medical experts, parents and politicians want restrict access to social media for children.

While social media can still have a harmful effect on those over the age of 16, early adolescence is an critical time for developing a youthful person’s identity and self-esteem.

Studies have shown that identity disorders in adolescence – essentially an unstable sense of self-worth – are a robust precursor Personality disorder in adulthood. We do not yet fully understand what life on social media does to identity development, but it is critical that we continue to explore this area.