Excessive use of the phone and screen associated with manic symptoms in adolescents, findings of study

A recent study by the University of California, San Francisco, shows that pre-adolescents with greater exposure to certain types of technology use may be at a higher risk of developing manic symptoms.

Published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the study analyzed a nationwide sample of 9,243 children in the US between 10 and 11 years.

Young people who spent more time engaged with social media, text, videos and video games were more likely to have “swollen self-esteem, decrease in the need for sleep, distinction, rapid speech, race thoughts and impulsivity-characteristic manic episodes.

“This study underlines the importance of cultivating healthy use habits early,” said co -author Kyle Ganson, PhD, professor Assistant at the Faculty of Labor Factor at the University of Toronto.

“Future research can help us better understand the behaviors and mechanisms of the brain that associate screen use to manic symptoms to help inform prevention and intervention efforts.”

Tips for safer use by experts

To mark the global day of secession (March 7), Verizon received his “Wellness Summit” first in New York City to share knowledge with the public about the safe use of technology.

Sowmyanrayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, discussed the importance of determining digital boundaries, especially for children.

“Digital Wellness should be for any age, but we really need a new plan as parents because we have never gone through this before,” Sampath said at this Big Apple.

“This digital age is new to us all. There is no time in history we can regain how we treat it. “

In a special interview with the Fox News Digital, Sampath shared compelling statistics on using the phone, including findings from Verizon’s 2024 Connection Connections report.

Children and adolescents use social media for four to five hours a day and receive between 250 and 275 announcements daily, the report revealed.

Children were also found to touch and get their phones about 150 times a day.

A quarter of these events occurred during the school schedule.

“This is what prompted us to think there is a healthier relationship that people can have,” Sampath said.

The influence of technology on children

Dr. Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, attending a psychologist at the Boston Children’s Hospital and a Harvard Medical Assistant Professor, also spoke at a panel at the Verizon event and in a subsequent interview with Fox News Digital.

The expert noted that children who spend “hours and hours” of their free time on their phones can be “problematic”, especially given the possibility that they will undergo threats such as internet attacks and hate speech.

“We know that these are associated with depressive symptoms and other mental health concerns,” she said.

“We also know that there are so much positive about social connection, teaching and entertainment, so we have to balance those two things.”

She stressed that some social media applications are “designed to keep you stuck” through the loop of an algorithm.

This problematic use can lead to weaker functioning at work or school and can adversely affect sleep and relationships, Sinclair-McBride warned.

“Are they able to live their lives and do the things they want and have to do in a positive way? If there are concerns in any of those areas, this is usually a sign of something that needs to be reassessed. “

Incentive for parents, grandparents

Sinclair-McBride encouraged parents and grandparents to learn about applications that children are using and teaching them to be “critical customers” of content by training them to detect fraud, misinformation or content generated by him.

“Slowing down and being more thoughtful and aware of what you are doing is, I think, the first step in modeling this as a parent,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Parents can also watch their use and [ask]’Am I too much on my phone? Am I very dependent on social media? ‘”

The Director General also called on adults to set boundaries involving the use of the phone, whether limited to certain spaces at home or specific time of day.

‘Create space to have fun’

Sampath shared simple tips for households to ensure a healthy balance between the use of technology and open activities.

“Go for a movie. Go for a walk. Go and play a game or just hang out with friends. Or just sit with your family in your kitchen and do fun things, ”he suggested.

“I think kids will have to be quiet sometimes doing anything … reading a book, just hanging out,” he said.

“Children will have to get the most comfortable way by making it – this is part of a healthy border, and is part of a good relationship with technology.”

Sampath also encouraged Americans to benefit from living in areas with “some of the best weather” and “best natural views in the world” exploring outdoor spaces and moving more.

“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.

“There are long -term benefits in mental health … When you do things in real life, you feel happier.”

Sinclair-McBride echoed the tips to get out and “touch the grass”.

“The time people spend with digital technology must be balanced with real -life things, whether sports, arts, creative activities, reading or current, tangible things,” she said.

“I think people are in this mentality that this generation only wants to make digital, digital, digital,” she added.

“They still like other things too. We have to give them the opportunity, space and freedom to have that time.”