Young People, Social Media and Health - what is the answer?

Summary

Dr. Vickie Gujia from the University of Birmingham discusses the relationship between social media, young people, and health. Despite concerns about social media's impact on mental and physical health, her research indicates that many young people use social media positively for health education on topics like fitness and nutrition. However, adults often lack the digital literacy to support young people effectively. To address this, Dr. Gujia advocates for enhancing adult digital literacy to better understand and engage with young people's social media use, maximizing benefits while minimizing risks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dr. Vickie Gujia from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences discusses the impact of social media on young people's health.
• 📱 There has been an increase in young people's social media usage, coinciding with reported increases in mental health issues and declines in physical activity levels.
• 🔍 Despite societal concerns, there is a lack of robust evidence linking social media use directly to mental or physical health effects.
• 🧑‍🎓 Research at the University of Birmingham aimed to understand how young people in the UK use social media for health education, focusing on physical activity, diet, nutrition, and body image.
• 📊 Over 1300 young people participated in the study across various UK schools, using participatory techniques to gather insights into their social media habits.
• 🌟 The study revealed that young people experience a range of positive benefits from social media, contrasting with the common narrative of negative influences.
• 💪 Adolescents are both critical and vulnerable users of social media, especially when exploring fitness, diets, and body image during this formative period.
• 🤔 Young people expressed the need for adult support, particularly from teachers and parents, but noted that adults often lack understanding of how to provide effective support.
• 👨‍🏫 Physical Education (PE) teachers were seen as key supporters due to their knowledge of health and well-being but often focus on the risks rather than the benefits of social media.
• 📚 The research suggests improving adult digital literacy as a means to better support young people, emphasizing the need for adults to understand and engage with social media positively.
• 📹 Videos co-created with young people were made to educate teachers and adults about the positive aspects of social media and how to support young people in navigating its challenges.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker is Dr. Vickie Gujia, from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences.

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic is the relationship between social media, young people, and health.

What societal trends are mentioned as being associated with social media use and reported physical and mental health issues among young people?

The significant increase in young people's use of social media and their accessibility to devices and different platforms is mentioned as a societal trend associated with these issues.

What is the current problem with the evidence linking social media use to mental and physical health effects on young people?

The problem is the lack of robust evidence that definitively claims social media use causes an effect on mental or physical health.

What is the concern of adults, including teachers and parents, regarding young people's use of social media?

Adults are concerned because they do not understand why some young people display risk or experience risk while others can derive benefits from social media.

What research did the University of Birmingham and the School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences conduct on this topic?

They worked with over 1300 young people across the UK to understand how they use social media for health, particularly in the areas of physical activity, diet, nutrition, and body image.

What did the research find about the general experience of young people with social media?

The research found that for most young people, social media is a positive educational resource, offering a range of positive benefits.

What are the key vulnerabilities of young people when using social media, especially during adolescence?

Young people can be vulnerable during adolescence when they become interested in their bodies and naturally search for different fitness exercises, workouts, or diet ideas on social media.

What did young people suggest adults need to do to better support them in their use of social media?

Young people suggested that adults need to be better informed about the problems and benefits of social media and become digitally literate to engage with young people's needs and experiences on social media.

What was the method used by the researchers to help adults understand young people's experiences with social media?

The researchers co-created videos with young people to explain their experiences with social media to teachers and adults.

What is the final message of the video script regarding the role of adults in young people's social media use?

The final message is that adults need to become digitally literate to better understand how young people use and navigate social media, which will help young people experience the positives and mitigate some of the risks.