Is The Internet Really Ruining Teenage Brains?

Summary

This video discusses the impact of internet usage on the brain, particularly in adolescents. Contrary to popular belief, typical internet and social media use doesn't harm the developing brain under 25. Studies from University College London and Oxford suggest that social media enhances friendships and online interactions mirror real-life connections. Computer games and search engines aren't linked to negative cognitive effects. However, excessive online time can indirectly affect health and academic performance by replacing other essential activities.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The human brain reaches full maturity around the mid-20s, with significant development occurring in the frontal cerebral cortex and prefrontal cortex.
• 🌐 Internet and social media use under the age of 25 is not necessarily damaging, contrary to some beliefs.
• 🔍 Concerns about Facebook and social media stunting neurologic development in teenagers are not supported by current neuroscience evidence.
• 📈 The number of adults going online has increased, with weekly hours spent online doubling from ten to over 20 in the last decade.
• 🤔 The impact of social networking site usage on emotional relationships and personal identity during critical neural development phases is not negative, according to research.
• 👥 Social media usage has been found to enhance the quality of friendships and relationships among adolescents.
• 💻 Online interactions are generally accurate portrayals of real life, making them similar to in-person connections.
• 🎮 Computer games do not necessarily lead to impulsiveness, a shorter attention span, or aggression.
• 🔍 Easy access to search engines does not solely cause superficial mental processing; many factors contribute to thought processes.
• ⚖️ The negative effects of excessive online time are indirect, often due to displacement of other important developmental activities.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Low levels of physical activity due to excessive internet use have been linked to obesity and diabetes.
• 📚 Poor academic performance among teenage gamers is more likely due to time spent gaming instead of studying, not the games themselves.

Q & A

What is the main concern about teenagers spending time on social media sites like Facebook?

The main concern is that it may stunt their neurologic development, as the human brain doesn't reach full maturity until the mid-20s and early to mid-adolescence is a critical period for brain growth and pruning.

What areas of the brain are most affected during early and mid-adolescence?

The forward cerebral cortex and the prefrontal cortex, which are associated with planning and problem-solving tasks, are the areas that undergo considerable growth and pruning during early and mid-adolescence.

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in brain development?

The prefrontal cortex plays a role in brain development by communicating more effectively with other parts of the brain as it matures, which is crucial for planning and problem-solving.

How has the time spent online by adults changed in the last decade according to the European-based study mentioned?

According to the study, the number of adults going online in any location has increased, and the number of hours spent online each week has more than doubled from ten to over twenty hours.

What do some scientists suggest about the impact of social networking site usage on emotional relationships and personal identity?

Some scientists suggest that the increase in social networking site usage may negatively affect how we relate to others emotionally and gain a sense of personal identity during the critical phase of neural development.

What is the conclusion of the scientists at University College London and the University of Oxford regarding the impact of typical internet use on the adolescent brain?

The scientists concluded that there is no evidence from neuroscience studies to show that typical internet use harms the adolescent brain and that it can actually be useful.

How does the use of social networking sites by adolescents affect their friendships and relationships?

Adolescents' use of social networking sites has been found to enhance the overall quality of friendships and relationships.

What did the research team find about the portrayal of life online?

The research team found that people generally portray their lives accurately online, making online interactions closer to in-person connections.

What is the relationship between computer games and impulsiveness, attention span, or aggression according to the research?

The research found that computer games do not necessarily lead to impulsiveness, a shorter attention span, or aggression.

What does the research suggest about the impact of search engines on mental processing?

The research suggests that it's impossible to blame technology alone for superficial mental processing, as many factors contribute to the way a person thinks.

What are the indirect negative effects of spending too much time online?

The indirect negative effects include low levels of physical activity linked to obesity and diabetes, and lower grades among teenage gamers due to time spent playing games instead of doing homework.

What balance is recommended for those whose brains are still developing?

It is recommended to have a good balance in life, ensuring that technology use does not displace other important activities for development.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Internet Use and Brain Development

The script discusses the impact of internet use on brain development, particularly in adolescents. Contrary to popular belief, internet and social media usage isn't necessarily harmful for those under 25. The script addresses concerns that excessive time spent on social media like Facebook could stunt neurological development in teenagers. It explains that the human brain continues to develop until the mid-20s, with significant growth in areas like the prefrontal cortex, which is crucial for planning and problem-solving. However, studies from University College London and the University of Oxford suggest that typical internet use does not harm the adolescent brain and can even enhance the quality of friendships and relationships. The script also debunks the idea that computer games lead to impulsiveness or aggression and argues that technology isn't the sole cause of superficial mental processing. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of balance, as excessive internet use can indirectly affect development by displacing other important activities.

Keywords

💡Neurologic development

Neurologic development refers to the growth and maturation of the nervous system, particularly the brain, over time. In the video, it is mentioned that teenagers spending a lot of time on social media might stunt their neurologic development. This is a central theme as it suggests a potential negative impact of internet use on brain maturation, especially during the critical period of adolescence.

💡Prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex is a region of the brain located behind the forehead, associated with planning and problem-solving tasks. The video explains that during early and mid-adolescence, this area undergoes significant growth and pruning, which is crucial for its effective functioning. It is implied that excessive internet usage could affect the development of this region, thus impacting an individual's cognitive abilities.

💡Social media

Social media refers to online platforms like Facebook where users can interact and share content. The video discusses the potential impact of social media on neurologic development, suggesting that excessive use might be harmful. However, it also presents research findings that social media usage can enhance the quality of friendships and relationships, indicating a more nuanced view of its effects.

💡Internet usage

Internet usage in the context of the video refers to the time spent online, including social media, gaming, and other activities. The script explores the idea that excessive internet usage could have negative effects on brain development and social skills. However, it also suggests that typical internet use is not harmful and may even be beneficial.

💡European-based study

The European-based study mentioned in the video found that the number of adults going online has significantly increased, doubling the weekly hours spent online from ten to over twenty. This study is used to highlight the widespread and growing use of the internet, which is then linked to discussions about its potential effects on brain development and social interaction.

💡University College London and University of Oxford

These two institutions are mentioned as sources of scientific research that contradict the idea that internet use is harmful to adolescent brains. They provide evidence that typical internet use does not harm the brain and may even enhance social interactions, challenging the negative narrative presented by other studies.

💡Online interaction

Online interaction refers to communication and socializing that occurs via the internet, such as through social media. The video discusses how such interactions are often portrayed and whether they are accurate representations of real-life connections. It suggests that people generally portray their lives accurately online, making these interactions closer to in-person connections.

💡Computer games

Computer games are a form of digital entertainment that the video discusses in relation to potential negative effects such as impulsiveness, shorter attention spans, or aggression. However, the research findings presented in the video suggest that computer games do not necessarily lead to these outcomes, challenging common stereotypes.

💡Search engines

Search engines are digital tools that allow users to search for information on the internet. The video addresses the concern that easy access to search engines might lead to superficial mental processing rather than deep knowledge and understanding. It argues that technology alone should not be blamed for changes in thought processes, as many factors can influence how a person thinks.

💡Physical activity

Physical activity is the human body's movement that results in increased energy expenditure and is typically associated with health benefits. The video connects low levels of physical activity, which can be associated with excessive internet use, to health issues like obesity and diabetes. It suggests that the displacement of physical activity by internet use can have negative health effects.

💡Balance

Balance in the context of the video refers to the need for a healthy equilibrium between internet use and other activities that are important for development. It emphasizes that while internet use is not inherently bad, it is crucial to ensure that it does not displace other essential activities, such as physical exercise or homework, which are vital for holistic development.

Highlights

Internet use may not be damaging for those under 25.

Time spent on social media sites like Facebook doesn't necessarily stunt neurologic development.

The human brain reaches full maturity around mid-20s.

Early and mid-adolescence are critical for brain development, particularly in the cerebral and prefrontal cortex.

Excessive Internet usage could affect the development of the prefrontal cortex.

European study shows adults are spending more than 20 hours a week online.

Scientists suggest social networking site usage might affect emotional and personal identity development.

University College London and University of Oxford scientists find no evidence of Internet use harming adolescent brains.

Social networking sites can enhance the quality of friendships and relationships.

Online interactions are found to be accurate representations of real-life connections.

Computer games do not necessarily lead to impulsiveness, shorter attention span, or aggression.

Easy access to search engines doesn't necessarily breed superficial mental processing.

Technology is not solely responsible for changes in thought processes.

Spending all your time online is not recommended due to indirect negative effects.

Technology displaces other important developmental activities.

Low levels of physical activity due to Internet use are linked to obesity and diabetes.

Time spent playing video games instead of homework is responsible for dropping grades, not the games themselves.

A good balance in life is necessary, especially for developing brains.

The video questions whether online friends are real friends.

The video encourages viewers to comment on their online habits and feelings towards friends.

Transcripts

All those times your mother told you to play outside because playing on the Internet is

ruining your brain?

Well, turns out she might have been wrong.

Sort of.

Hello everyone!

Amy coming to you on the Internet today talking about, well, how using the Internet might

be affecting your brain.

And the good news if you’re under 25?

Your internet and social media habits aren’t necessarily damaging.

Specifically, we’re talking about time spent on social media sites like Facebook.

The issue with Facebook, according to some scientists, is that teenagers spending an

increasing amount of time on social media sites are stunting their neurologic development.

The human brain doesn’t reach full maturity until we’re in our mid-20s.

Before that, during early and mid-adolescence, the brain undergoes considerable growth and

pruning, particularly in the forward cerebral cortex and the prefrontal cortex, the area

behind the forehead.

This is the area associated with planning and problem-solving related tasks.

As it develops, the prefrontal cortex communicates more effectively with other parts of the brain.

So, you can kind of imagine that any activity that affects the cerebral and prefrontal cortex

could seriously affect the individual’s development as well.

Things like excessive Internet usage.

One European-based study found that nine in ten adults go online in any location, more

than doubling the number of hours spent online each week in the last decade from ten hours

to more than 20.

So is it possible, as some scientists have suggested, that the increase in social networking

site usage is negatively affecting how we relate to others emotionally and gain a sense

of personal identity in this critical phase of neural development?

No.

At least, not according to scientists at University College London and the University of Oxford

who say that there is no evidence from neuroscience studies to show that typical internet use

harms the adolescent brain.

If anything, it’s actually useful.

Rather than hamper social interaction, adolescents’ use of social networking sites has been found

to enhance the overall quality of friendships and relationships.

The team also found that people generally portray their lives accurately, making online

interaction closer to in person connections.

Moving beyond the social side, the same research team found that computer games don’t necessarily

lead to impulsiveness, a shorter attention span, or aggression.

And as for the idea that easy access to search engines breeds superficial mental processing

rather than deep knowledge and understanding, the researchers say it’s impossible to blame

technology alone for this change in thought process; a lot of things can contribute to

the way a person thinks.

But this isn’t to say that spending all your time online is a good thing.

There are still negative effects, though it’s an indirect correlation.

It’s not technology affecting children's capacities, it’s the fact that using technology

is displacing other activities that are equally important for development.

And these are pretty easy correlations to see.

Low levels of physical activity associated with sitting around on the Internet have been

linked to obesity and diabetes.

And it’s the time spent playing video games rather than doing homework that’s responsible

for dropping grades among teenage gamers, not the games themselves.

So it’s not all bad.

Like pretty much everything, we just need to make sure we have a good balance in our

lives, especially those among us whose brains are still developing.

But are your online friends real friends?

Julia took at look at the science behind this one:

How much time do you guys spend online every day, and do you feel closer to your friends

for all the time spent snooping their facebook pictures?

Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe for more DNews every day

of the week.