Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

After Facebook Scandals, Is Keeping Children Off Social Media the Solution?

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Oct 2021 16:09
2 Min Read

Following Facebook scandals involving an internal report that acknowledged possible effects on teenagers, what can parents do to limit its effects?

  • x
  • Instagram can be harmful to teenagers mental health (Image source: AFP)
    Instagram can be harmful to teenagers' mental health (AFP)

Following a series of damaging disclosures about the firm, a Facebook whistleblower, Francis Haugen, expressed concerns about the company's numerous business operations, and she consequently testified before Congress.

The documents released revealed several explosive information about the company's growth strategies, including bids to market its products directly to children. The Company's internal research deemed its Instagram platform harmful to the mental health of young girls.

The report said that 13.5% of adolescent girls declared the platform exacerbated suicide thoughts, and 17% said it exacerbated an eating disorder.

Instagram can increase body image concerns among tweens and teens

Related News

Meta claims AI needs Aussies social media data to learn local concepts

Meta sued in Ghana over extreme content's toll on moderators

According to another report by Healthline, Jessica Castonguay, DO, MPH, an adolescent medicine specialist and an expert on eating disorders said that “the added stimulus of frequent images of ‘ideal' body shape can lead to increased body image concerns among tweens and teens.”

“Individuals with specific temperaments or psychiatric conditions may be more likely to experience the negative effects of social media exposure, regardless of how much time they spend ‘room scrolling,’” said Dr. Leela R. Magavi, a psychiatrist and regional medical director.

Dr. Jennifer Weber, the director of behavioral health at PM Pediatrics Behavioral Health, told Healthline that it's not realistic to ban children from social media, though she encourages a regulated usage, adding that children can be thought to use social platforms responsibly.

Limiting social media use is key

Castonguay and Weber advised parents to set rules and boundaries for their children on how to use social media. She suggested avoiding screens during dinner time and 1 hour before bedtime.

Experts also advised creating a central charging station for all phones at night. Limiting social media use to waking hours for parents is a way to reduce the number of time children spend unattended on the internet.

Modeling a healthy self-image and encouraging acceptance of different body types can also help, says Castonguay.

  • Facebook
  • social media
  • mentalhealth

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS