INDIANA – Technology plays a significant role in students’ lives, particularly those in middle and high school. It seems to have become a big part of their lives and their preferred method of communication.
While technology offers convenience, it also presents more than a few challenges. Whether it is social media, messaging, or video games, they all provide communication and anonymity. Students can portray themselves and their peers any way they want, often leading to the aforementioned challenges.
As a school social worker, I see students using technology and social media accounts at increasingly younger ages. One benefit of students having a social media account is that it offers a way to stay connected with friends and family who may not be local and stay abreast of current events. I believe that staying connected with others plays an important role in good mental health, and a benefit of technology as a whole is that it gives students a way to reach out to others and ask for help if needed.
On the other hand, technology and social media can present quite a few challenges. Working in a middle school, I see the constant struggle of keeping students off their electronics during the school day. With the continuous use of social media, I have seen rumors spread rapidly, videos of fights shared, and online bullying, to name a few examples. I have also seen social media accounts made to ridicule other students and even teachers. The challenges have increased with students’ required use of computers for classes and classwork.
Middle school is difficult enough, and adding technology and social media to the mix does not make things any easier. Social media can harm a student’s mental health. When rumors are spread or embarrassing pictures are shared, it often leads to feelings of shame, insecurity, and self-doubt. Then, when others begin to join in, the student may start to believe what is being said, possibly leading to depression, anxiety, isolation, anger, and loss of friendships. The more people that become involved, the more challenging it is for the student to handle and the school administration to resolve the issue.
Regarding mental health, there are positives and negatives to students using technology and social media. A positive aspect of a student having access to technology is that when they are feeling down or having thoughts of self-harm, they can easily reach out and get help, whether that be from a friend, family member, or hotline number. Another positive is the possibility of finding a community where they feel accepted and others who may have gone through a similar situation, who can be an inspiration for the student.
A downside is that there are times when students are focused on their devices and the actions of others, and become so wrapped up in what someone else is doing that they forget to live their own lives. Another downside is that rumors spread very quickly online, and the adverse effects on mental health increase.
As with almost anything, technology and social media can positively or negatively impact mental health. On the one hand, they can be used to promote community, connectedness, and support. On the other hand, they can be used to spread rumors, deceive, and tear others down. Therefore, it is important to bring awareness to positive mental health and proper use of technology, especially among middle and high school students.
Christina Oschman-Vandiver, MSW, LSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Perry Heights Middle School in Vanderburgh County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 126 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 53,000 youth and families per year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.
