YORK, Pa. — It seems that everyone is on social media these days, and kids are no exception.
It can be hard for parents to monitor what their child is viewing online and how that may affect them.
Dr. Vinitha Moopen with WellSpan Health says physicians have seen a large increase in children with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and self-image issues. Some kids even have trouble interacting face-to-face with people outside their family or their screen.
"All of these things can be very detrimental, especially when 95% of teenagers have at least one social media account," Dr. Moopen said.
It's not just older kids, either. The doctor says 45% of children ages 8-13 also have at least one social media account.
"They are not ready to navigate these waters," Dr. Moopen said. "We're seeing it younger and younger. We're seeing anxiety sometimes in 7 - 8 year olds. And that's very distressing. Especially with the lack of therapists and psychiatrists that we have, it's hard to see this every day."
She encourages parents to have open conversations with their kids where they talk about the dangers of social media and what can go wrong. This opens up a channel of communication and can help make the child feel more comfortable telling their parents about something harmful that happened to them online.
Dr. Moopen also recommends having designated screen-free times like evenings and meals and taking electronics away at night--even locking them in a safe if necessary.
"Sometimes it takes it extreme measures, but our kids are hurting and we need to step in," Dr. Moopen said.
The U.S. surgeon general recently called on Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms. Dr. Moopen says it's also a call to parents to be aware of what their kid is exposed to online. While many social media sites have age restrictions, kids can easily circumvent these policies.
Dr. Moopen says concerned parents can always talk to their doctors, nurses and pediatricians about any worries they may have for their child. If your kid needs to be seen by a doctor, click here to make an appointment with WellSpan.