
I recently attended the South Dakota Community Response to Child Abuse Conference. This year, much of the content focused on online exploitation and the effects of technology on children. It was very informative, challenging and confirming to the work we are doing through Esthers Rising.
The term “digital child” refers to children who are born into a world dominated by digital devices and the internet. In the U.S., 20% of children under the age of 5 now have their own device. 50% of 5- to 14-year-olds have a smart phone and by the time they reach adulthood, 90% of them have one. This screen time and the type of content on their screens is having an enormous, detrimental effect on children and young adults. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children aged 8 to 18 spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes per day with various forms of media. This constant stimulus is compromising our children from having high functioning brains, emotional regulation, and social development.
Seeing disturbing, graphic, and sexual content online has become a common experience for children. 70% of children aged 10 to 17 have encountered explicit content on social media. The average age of exposure to pornography is 12 years old and greater than 50% of reporting youth said they regularly viewed violent porn.
In addition to exposure to inappropriate online content, children are also getting addicted to being online and using gaming and social media platforms. Excessive compulsive use of technology displaces beneficial activities like sleep and in-person socialization, leading to reduced well-being. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between excessive screen time and increased rates of anxiety and depression among children.
Our children are not merely consumers of technology but active participants in a digital ecosystem that shapes their identity and experiences. Technology companies have designed their products in such a way that they facilitate negative effects on youth, including bullying and harassment; experiences with unwanted disturbing, graphic and sexual content; feeling envy and making negative social and appearance comparisons; unwanted contact from strangers; and misuse of their information and images. The features designed by technology platforms such as infinite scrolling, constant notifications, and auto-play videos all facilitate increased use beyond the user’s intent. Psychologists have tied these features to a dopamine response in the brain, therefore creating an addiction.
Why would technology platform creators want to do this? The answer is obvious – money. More usage equals more money for the tech companies. In 2022, Social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube collectively derived nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from U.S.-based users younger than 18.
Teenagers now know this. One study found that 72 percent of teens believe that tech companies manipulate users to spend more time on their devices. But knowing it and doing something about it are two different things. Young people are acutely aware that social media platforms can be bad for their mental health yet are compelled to spend time on the apps for fear of missing out on cultural and social trends. And with what we know about the adolescent brain, kids are not able to fully regulate themselves.
We, as adults, must step in and protect our children. This can be done by parents and grandparents getting educated themselves and putting safeguards in place. We can also advocate for schools to put policies in place that limit screen time in the classroom and the use of devices while in school. We can also work to get legislation changed and laws put into place to protect children and regulate content available to them online. As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative that we all remain proactive in fostering healthy digital habits. By working together promoting balanced engagement, digital literacy, and emotional resilience, we can help shape a generation of children who thrive in both the digital and the real world.
- Cheri Hartman, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Development