Beyond 'Waste of Life' to Health Damage... 4 Checklist Items to Detect Children's 'SNS Addiction'

US Surgeon General "SNS Threatens Adolescent Mental Health"
Consider Daily Activities, Usage Time, Self-Control, and Sleep Disruption

U.S. public health authorities have warned that social networking services (SNS) can pose serious risks to the mental health of adolescents, raising awareness in American society about SNS addiction among children.

On the 23rd (local time), The New York Times evaluated a 19-page public health advisory titled "The Impact of SNS on the Mental Health and Well-being of Children and Adolescents," previously released by Vivek Murthy, head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and Surgeon General, as "a turning point in the lives of Americans."

It then introduced four key points to carefully observe when concerned about a child's SNS use, which are also noteworthy in South Korea, where SNS usage rates rank among the highest worldwide. According to the '2021 Social Media Market and Status Analysis' report by market research firm DMC Media, South Korea's SNS usage rate was 89.3%, ranking second overall, approximately 1.7 times higher than the global average of 53.6%.

1. Disruption of Daily Life

The starting point to prevent SNS addiction is to assess whether the child finds joy not only in the virtual space of SNS but also in real-life daily activities. Dr. Harold Koplewitz of the American Institute of Child Psychiatry said, "Even if a child uses SNS daily, if they enjoy other activities besides going to school or holding a smartphone, it can be considered a balanced and healthy use."

However, it is also important to consider whether the child relies on SNS as a means of emotional expression to relieve stress. Dr. Jenny Radesky of the American Academy of Pediatrics stated, "If a child uses SNS as the main way to improve their mood on stressful days, it is a signal that they need help finding other coping methods."

2. Daily Usage Time

The NYT reported that there is no absolute standard for appropriate daily SNS usage time, and expert opinions vary. However, it is necessary to balance 'SNS use' with 'daily activities.' Dr. Anne Marie Albano, co-clinical director of the New York Presbyterian Youth Mental Health Center, suggested, "Limit the ratio so that for every hour spent on SNS, 3 to 5 hours are spent interacting face-to-face with people."

Dr. Koplewitz from the Institute of Child Psychiatry proposed a 'total volume system' that limits a child's daily smartphone usage to under 4 hours, expanding the scope beyond just SNS.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT's '2022 Survey on Digital Information Gap, Accessibility, and Smartphone Overdependence,' last year, 4 out of 10 domestic adolescents were found to be in the 'high-risk group' for smartphone overdependence.

3. Smartphone Self-Control

It is natural for children to dislike or throw tantrums when prohibited from using smartphones, but excessive nagging can backfire. Dr. Albano said, "If a child continues to cry, get angry, or shout, it could be a warning sign."

According to her, if a child shows self-control by stopping usage at the designated time, they should be guaranteed the same usage time the next day. Conversely, if they cannot stop, their usage time should be reduced the following day, using a proper balance of 'carrot and stick' methods.

4. Sleep Disruption

The most definitive sign of 'SNS addiction' is whether it interferes with sleep. Lack of sleep not only directly harms health but also affects academic performance and daily life, causing side effects. To prevent this, The NYT reported that it can be helpful for the entire family to establish rules such as leaving smartphones in the living room when sleeping.

Dr. Jesse Gold of the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis explained, "SNS can affect sleep and emotions, as well as concentration and self-esteem," adding, "Parents having open-minded conversations with their children without prejudice can be a starting point." He also noted, "SNS will not disappear," and said, "Parents telling children 'Stop because SNS is bad for your mental health' is not a solution."

U.S.: "Urgent Need to Address SNS Issues... Negative Impact on Mental Health"

Meanwhile, Surgeon General Murthy stated in the announcement, "Despite some positive effects of SNS, there is extensive evidence that it harms children's health and happiness," adding, "A nationwide mental health crisis among young people is emerging, with SNS identified as a major contributing factor. This is an urgent issue that must be addressed."

He continued, "SNS use plays a role in causing and sustaining body image issues, affecting eating behaviors and sleep quality, and leading to social comparison and decreased self-esteem," noting, "These phenomena are particularly pronounced among adolescent females."

He emphasized that adolescents who use SNS for more than three hours a day are twice as likely to experience mental health problems such as depression and anger, and stressed the need for active efforts from families and the government to suppress the negative functions of SNS.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.