March 2025

Part 2: The Great Debate: Is Banning Social Media the Right Way to Go?

What Can Schools Do to Help Students Navigate the World of Social Media

The concept of social media addiction emerged in the late 1990s, yet it is still controversial today. Many psychologists treat it in their clinics, while some academics like Professor Matthew Allen, writing in 2013, argue that the problem isn’t significant yet due to a lack of strong evidence. However young people themselves are concerned that some of them are addicted. Recent studies suggest the pull of social media is hard to resist.

Social Media Addiction: Myth or Reality?

In 2016, 13.4 million out of 23.1 million Australians spent around 18.8 hours per day online, with New South Wales leading the charge. The platforms of choice? TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, Discord, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Reddit, and Tumblr. Young people today recognise that although platforms were initially focused on connecting people, they are also powerful vehicles for marketing. In 2017, a digital marketing blog announced that users handed over personal details, enabling companies to target specific consumers with increasing accuracy.

That being said, it is difficult to support the idea that social media is directly responsible for a decline in young people’s mental health, chiefly because a simple causal link can’t be established. At best, results from recent studies are mixed.

Social media, like other tools, can be used for either good or ill. Whilst some users report that they are unscathed by social media use, others tell a different story. Simply put, being addicted negatively affects a person’s life, including productivity at work or school. Over 75% of teens check their phone hourly. In 2023 Headspace conducted a survey of 3,107 young respondents. Around 33% identified their use as problematic, whilst half the participants wanted to disconnect but experienced FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

Many teens feel that belonging to group chats is a crucial sign of belonging. Schools, families and the wider community need to ensure that students feel they can belong without having to rely on social media. Creating school activity groups, excursions, and team tasks help, whilst teaching that friendship can be expressed in various ways.

Responding to likes, sharing photos or messages releases dopamine in the brain which means that users associate scrolling, commenting and liking with pleasure. The trick is – they don’t know when that hit is coming, so staying connected is key!

It bears repeating that not everyone is a social media addict. Many positive connections are made through social media. You can meet people with different opinions, market a small business, and have your say on important issues.

Addicts may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Anxiety due to not responding to notifications or messages.
• Irritation and anger when they are unable to connect.
• Spending more than two or three hours per day online.
• Thinking about being online even when they’re not.
• Poor performance at work or school.
• Decreased pleasure in hobbies or in meeting family and friends.

Thankfully, a lot can be done to change young people’s behaviour and curb negative effects.

• The first step is to document and monitor trends of social media usage.
• The next is to plan, implement, and monitor changes to behaviour patterns.

Managing Social Media Addiction

In 2024, Loreto College implemented a Social, Emotional, and Academic Development Program. Students learn about the dangers of clickbait, how to define friendship, issues relating to body image, and how to create a safe and positive digital footprint. In the context of this program, critical thinking is the order of the day. Students are also encouraged to try alternative activities – hiking, reading, making things.

Schools and families can also use parental controls to inform discussions with teens and children about social media use. Laying out ground rules and reviewing them as and when needed is crucial. It’s a great alternative to an all-out ban. Giving children opportunities to meet face-to-face and engage in a range of social media free activities is the way to go.

Many journalists have reported positive results when conducting their own social media experiments. Chatting with your child and finding out what attraction social media has for them is a good start.

Remember:

• Encourage honesty and let trust develop between you and your children.
• Discuss issues of safety and consent to share images and videos.
• Model social media behaviours you would like to see in your children – phones away at the table or when talking to them.
• Remind children that they can come to you if they experience problems, and that you will support and help them troubleshoot at all times.
• Social media-free Sundays or weekends can disrupt unhealthy habits.
• Allow connection through FaceTime and encourage logging off at least an hour before bedtime.
• Experiments suggest that mobile phones are the culprits when it comes to excessive social media checking. Emphasise that they are in control of their time, and that going offline is a crucial way to maintain balance.
• Encourage purposeful activity online, as opposed to aimless scrolling – if your time on social media is focused, it’s often more enjoyable.
• Encourage kids to create their own list of alternative activities to turn to in offline time – sketching, scrapbooking, reading, baking cookies – the list goes on.
• Ask platforms to make social media a positive space for children, providing suggestions where possible.

Working with psychologists and your children to develop strategies is an option.

Author
Estelle Borrey
PhD in European Languages and Cultures.

Bibliography

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