A recent study by the University of California in San Francisco, indicates that pre-adolescents with greater exposure to certain types of technological use could be more at risk of developing maniac symptoms.
Published in the social journal Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the study analyzed a national sample of 9,243 children in the United States between 10 and 11 years old.
Young people who spent more time engaging with social media, SMS, videos and video games were more likely to have “swollen self -esteem, decrease in sleep need, distractibility, rapid speech, racing thoughts and impulsiveness – characteristic behaviors of manic episodes, a key characteristic of bipolar disorders”, noted a press release.
Limit of 3 hours of weekly screen time for children has a “positive effect” on behavior, mental health: study
“This study highlights the importance of cultivating healthy screen habits early,” said co-author Kyle Ganson, PHD, assistant professor at the factor-inwentash faculty-inwentash social work faculty of the University of Toronto.
“Future research can help us better understand the behaviors and brain mechanisms linking screen use with manic symptoms to help clarify prevention and intervention efforts.”
Excessive use of social media, SMS, videos and video games by young people of certain ages was linked to a higher risk of mental health problems in a recent study. (Fox News)
Advice for safer use of experts
To mark World overflow day (March 7), Verizon organized its very first “Digital Wellness Summit” in New York to share information with the public on the safe use of technology.
Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, discussed the importance of setting digital limits, especially for children.
“”Digital well-being should be for all ages, but we really need a new plan as parents, because we have never experienced this before, “said Sampath during the Big Apple event.
“There is a healthier relationship that people can have.”
“This digital age is new to all of us. There is no time in history, we can recover how we manage this.”
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Sampath shared convincing statistics on the use of the phone, including the results of the Verizon Consumer Connections Report.
Children and adolescents use social media for four to five hours a day and receive between 250 and 275 notifications per day, the report revealed.
Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, on the right, is presented at Verizon Digital Wellness Summit on March 6, 2025, in New York. On the left, the actor and animator of Talk-Show Drew Barrymore. (Angelica Stabile / Fox News Digital)
It has also been found that children touch and collect their phones about 150 times a day.
A quarter of these events occurred during class hours.
“This is what pushed us to think that there is a healthier relationship that people can have,” said Sampath.
The impact of technology on children
Dr. Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, psychologist at the Boston children’s hospital and assistant professor at the Harvard Medical School, also spoke in a panel of the Verizon event and in a follow-up interview with Fox News Digital.
The expert noted that children spending “hours and hours” from their free time on their phone can be “problematic”, especially given the possibility that they will experience threats such as cyberbullying and hate speeches.
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“We know that these are associated with depressive symptoms and other mental health problems,” she said.
“We also know that there is so much positive for social connection, learning and pleasure, so we have to balance these two things.”
She stressed that some social media applications are “designed to keep you stuck” through the loop of an algorithm.
Socialization with others can have a positive impact on children’s moods, experts suggested. (istock)
This problematic use can lead to proper functioning at work or at school and can have a negative impact on sleep and relations, warned Sinclair-McBride.
“Are they able to live their lives and do the things they want and must do positively? If there are concerns in one of these areas, it is generally a sign of something that must be reassessed.”
Invite parents, grandparents
Sinclair-McBride encouraged parents and grandparents to learn more about applications that children use and teach them to be “critical consumers” of content by forming them to detect scams, disinformation or content generated by AI.
“Slow down and be more thoughtful and attentive to what you are doing is, I think, the first step in modeling as a parent,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Parents can also look at their own use and [ask]”Am I too much on my phone?” Am I too addicted to social media? “”
The CEO has also urged adults to set limits involving the use of the phone, whether limited to certain spaces in the house or specific periods of the day.
“When you do things in real life, you feel happier.” (istock)
“Create space to have fun”
Sampath shared simple advice for families to ensure a healthy balance between the use of technology and unplugged activities.
“Go for a movie. Go for a walk. Go play a game or just go out with friends. Or spend time with your family in your kitchen and have fun things,” he suggested.
“I think children will have to be comfortable sometimes doing nothing … by reading a book, just out,” he said.
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“Children will have to become much more comfortable doing it – it’s part of a healthy border, and that is part of a good relationship with technology.”
Sampath also encouraged Americans to enjoy life in areas with “some of the best times” and “the best natural sites in the world” by exploring outdoor spaces and moving more.
“The time people spend with digital technology must be balanced with real stuff, whether sport, arts, creative activities, reading or real and tangible practical things.” (istock)
“You want to create space to have fun. You want to create space to play. You want to create space to have physical activity, to have real relationships,” he said.
“It has long -term advantages on mental health … When you do things in real life, you feel happier.”
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Sinclair-McBride echoes the advice to go out and “touch the grass”.
“The time people spend with digital technology must be balanced with real stuff, be it sport, arts, creative activities, reading or real and tangible practical things,” she said.
Experts recommended that children have more time to explore tangible activities and hobbies instead of default with digital. (istock)
“I think people are in this state of mind that this generation only wants to do digital, digital, digital,” she added.
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“They always love other things too. We have to give them options, space and freedom to have this time.”
