A study was published by the Education Policy Institute, and it attempts to evaluate mental health in kids and teenagers. One part specifically concentrates on the Internet and social media usage and its relationship with mental issues, discovering that kids and teens who consume three or more hours online on a school day are higher than twice as likely to report having mental health issues.
Overall, the study determined extreme Internet users as those who use the Internet for six or more hours outer of school hours on an ordinary weekend day. The UK has the largest number of youth who reach this level of usage, with the next highest being Chile. Among them, the bulk report using the Internet and social media in private, such as in a bedroom, and the bulk report using a smartphone every day of the week.
While modest usage among kids and teens appeared in 6.7% saying they were experiencing bullying online, 17.8% of ‘extreme’ users told having the same bullying experience. As well, extreme youthful Internet users proclaimed having lower life satisfaction than those who use it slightly or less, rating their life satisfaction at only 6.59/10 (versus a moderate user’s 7.4/10). Of course, this doesn’t intend that social media and the Internet are essentially harmful — the study notes many interests that both provide.
Still, the study shows that excessive Internet usage among kids and teens should be directed; even if the usage isn’t directly causing harm.It may be indirectly affecting them.
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