Social media and teenage health ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

This BBC Learning English episode of 'Six Minute English' explores the impact of social media on teenagers' mental health. It discusses the addictive nature of platforms like Snapchat and TikTok, with insights from Professor Devi Sridhar on how algorithms feed users content in a potentially harmful way. The show also addresses the role of parents in navigating these challenges, highlighting the importance of regulation and the responsibility placed on adults to find solutions. The episode ends with a surprising statistic about Snapchat usage among young adults.

Takeaways

• 📱 Social media apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Threads are widely used and can lead to increased screen time.
• 🧠 Studies suggest that social media use can have negative effects on mental health, being as addictive as gambling.
• 👨‍⚕️ Research in the US indicates that adolescents spending over three hours daily on social media double their risk of depression and anxiety.
• 📊 64% of teens reported regular exposure to hate-based content on social media, affecting their mental well-being.
• 🏛️ The US is in the process of regulating social media apps for teenagers, with some experts suggesting the UK should follow suit.
• 🔍 Algorithms on social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged by feeding them addictive content based on their preferences.
• 💰 Social media platforms' revenue model, which relies on advertising, may prioritize profits over user mental health.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents are increasingly concerned about their teenagers' social media use and are seeking ways to manage it.
• 🤔 The responsibility to help teenagers navigate social media falls on parents, who face the challenge of balancing online safety with their children's social lives.
• 📈 Snapchat is particularly popular among young people, with 90% of thirteen to twenty-four-year-olds using the app.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the Six Minute English from BBC Learning English?

The main topic discussed is the impact of social media on teenagers' mental health and the potential addiction to it.

Which social media platforms are mentioned in the script?

The platforms mentioned are Snapchat, TikTok, and Threads.

What is the connection between social media use and mental health as discussed in the script?

The script suggests that excessive social media use can lead to an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety in adolescents.

What is the term used to describe someone aged ten to nineteen?

The term used to describe someone aged ten to nineteen is 'adolescent'.

What percentage of thirteen to twenty-four-year-olds use Snapchat according to the script?

According to the script, 90% of thirteen to twenty-four-year-olds use Snapchat.

What does the term 'fed content' refer to in the context of social media?

In the context of social media, 'fed content' refers to content that is automatically offered to users by the platform's algorithms based on their previous interactions.

What is the role of algorithms in social media platforms as discussed in the script?

Algorithms are used by social media platforms to prioritize and personalize the content a user sees, aiming to keep users engaged on the platform for as long as possible to increase advertising revenue.

What is the term used to describe the money a company earns?

The term used to describe the money a company earns is 'revenue'.

What does the term 'onus' mean in the context of the script?

In the context of the script, 'onus' refers to the responsibility or duty placed on parents to find solutions for their teenagers' social media addiction.

What is the significance of the term 'losing battle' in the discussion about teenagers and social media?

The term 'losing battle' signifies the struggle parents face when trying to regulate their teenagers' social media use, as it is often an uphill task due to the integral role social networks play in teenagers' lives.

What is the role of advertising in the context of social media platforms' revenue?

Advertising is a significant source of revenue for social media platforms, as they are paid by other companies to promote their products on their platforms.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Social Media and Teen Mental Health

This segment of the BBC's Six Minute English discusses the impact of social media on teenagers' mental health. It highlights the addictive nature of platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Threads, and references studies that suggest a link between excessive social media use and increased risk of depression and anxiety among adolescents. The US is considering regulations to protect teenagers, and there's a call for similar actions in the UK. The conversation also touches on how algorithms on social media platforms can perpetuate harmful content, such as that related to eating disorders, by continuously serving similar content to users who engage with it. The segment emphasizes the responsibility placed on parents to monitor and manage their children's social media use, despite the challenges this presents.

05:03

📚 Recap of Key Vocabulary

The second paragraph serves as a recap of the key vocabulary introduced in the programme. It defines 'adolescent' as a person aged between ten and nineteen, 'fed content' as being automatically offered content by social media platforms, 'algorithms' as the complex rules that determine and customize what users see, 'revenue' as the income earned by a company, potentially from advertising, and 'onus' as the responsibility or duty placed on someone. The term 'losing battle' is used to describe a fight that seems impossible to win, which in the context of the discussion, refers to the struggle parents face in regulating their teenagers' social media use. The segment concludes by inviting listeners to join future episodes for more vocabulary and discussions.

Keywords

💡social media

Social media refers to digital platforms and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. In the context of the video, social media is central to the discussion on its impact on mental health, particularly among adolescents. The script mentions various apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Threads, highlighting how they can consume a significant amount of users' time and potentially lead to issues like depression and anxiety.

💡addictive

The term 'addictive' describes something that is so enjoyable or compelling that people have a strong desire to continue using it, often to the point of being difficult to stop. In the video, social media is compared to gambling in terms of its addictive nature, suggesting that the constant engagement with social media platforms can lead to compulsive use, which may have negative consequences on mental health.

💡adolescent

An 'adolescent' is a person aged between ten and nineteen, transitioning from childhood to adulthood. The video emphasizes this age group as particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of social media use, such as increased risk of developing depression and anxiety when spending excessive time on these platforms.

💡depression

Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. The script discusses research findings that link prolonged social media use in adolescents to a higher risk of developing depression, underscoring the importance of monitoring and regulating screen time.

💡anxiety

Anxiety refers to a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. The video mentions that, similar to depression, anxiety is another mental health issue that can be exacerbated by excessive social media use among teenagers.

💡algorithms

Algorithms in the context of social media are complex sets of rules and calculations that determine the content users see on their feeds. They personalize and prioritize content based on user behavior, such as likes and searches. The video points out that these algorithms can be addictive, as they are designed to keep users engaged on platforms for longer periods, which can contribute to excessive use and potential mental health issues.

💡revenue

Revenue is the income generated by a company, often from sales or advertising. In the video, it is mentioned that social media platforms' revenue comes from advertising, which creates a conflict of interest as their business model incentivizes keeping users on the platform for as long as possible, potentially at the expense of users' mental health.

💡fed content

To be 'fed content' in the context of social media means to have content automatically presented to you by the platform's algorithms. This term is used in the video to describe how users are passively receiving content that the algorithms think they will engage with, which can contribute to the addictive nature of social media.

💡onset

The term 'onset' refers to the beginning or starting point of something. In the video, it is used to discuss the beginning of mental health issues like depression and anxiety that can be associated with the excessive use of social media among adolescents.

💡onus

The 'onus' refers to the responsibility or duty placed on someone. In the video, it is mentioned that the responsibility to address the issue of social media addiction in teenagers has been placed on parents and concerned adults, highlighting the challenges they face in navigating and regulating their children's social media use.

💡losing battle

A 'losing battle' is a struggle or fight that is very unlikely to be won. The video uses this term to describe the challenges parents face when trying to control or limit their teenagers' social media use, as the platforms are deeply integrated into the social lives of young people.

Highlights

Social media addiction is a concern with the prevalence of various apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Threads.

Some studies suggest that social media can be as addictive as gambling.

US research indicates that adolescents spending over three hours daily on social media double their risk of depression and anxiety.

Health experts are increasingly worried about the chronic health effects of social media on teenagers' mental health.

64% of teens report regular exposure to hate-based content on social media platforms.

The US is considering regulating social media apps for teenagers, with some advocating for similar action in the UK.

Social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged by feeding them addictive content.

Teenagers' entire social networks are often on social media platforms, making parental control challenging.

The responsibility to help teenagers navigate social media safely often falls on parents.

Snapchat is a popular communication method for teenagers, with 90% of thirteen to twenty-four-year-olds using it.

Social media platforms use algorithms to personalize content and keep users on their platforms to increase advertising revenue.

The term 'fed content' refers to content automatically offered by social media platforms based on user behavior.

Revenue for social media platforms often comes from advertising, which incentivizes keeping users engaged for longer periods.

The onus is on parents to find solutions to help their children use social media safely, despite the challenges.

A 'losing battle' describes a situation where the outcome is already determined and efforts are unlikely to succeed.

The vocabulary segment of the programme helps learners understand terms related to social media and its impact on teenagers.

The programme concludes with a recap of the key vocabulary words and concepts discussed.

Transcripts

Hello. This is Six Minute

English from BBC

Learning English. I'm Neil. Beth?

What are you doing? Get off your phone!

Oh, sorry! And I'm Beth.

Are you addicted to social media?

It wouldn't be a surprise.

With so many different apps out there,

Snapchat, TikTok, and the latest, Threads,

it's easy to spend a lot more time on your phone than ever before.

Yes, I don't think I'm addicted,

but I definitely spend more time on social media than I'd like to.

However, there are plenty of studies out there looking

at how social media affects mental health with some saying

it can be as addictive as gambling. Research in the US has found

that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media

have double the risk of developing depression and anxiety. An adolescent

is someone aged ten to nineteen,

between childhood and adulthood. With that in mind,

it's no wonder parents are worried. To help with this, the US is currently

in the process of regulating social media apps for teenagers.

Some scientists think the UK should do the same.

There has been growing agreement among health experts about

the negative chronic health effects of social media use on teenagers.

They have revealed in surveys that social media makes them feel worse

about their body image and 64% of teens have said

they are regularly exposed to hate-based content. In this programme,

we'll be discussing how social media affects teenagers and,

as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.

But first I have a question for you, Beth.

The app Snapchat is a very common way that teenagers communicate these

days.

This is partly because messages

and photos disappear after a certain time period.

But what percentage of thirteen to twenty-four year olds use Snapchat?

Is it: a) 70%, b) 80% or c) 90%.

Hmm, I'll guess 80%.

OK, Beth. I'll reveal the answer later in the programme.

A lot of social media platforms, such as TikTok, work

by showing and suggesting similar accounts and content to those

someone has already searched for. Professor Devi Sridhar,

the Chair of global public health

at the University of Edinburgh, thinks this can be concerning, as she told

BBC World Service Programme,

Inside Science. And this

is worrying, for example,

with young girls and eating disorders, that they're being fed that

in an addictive way and the algorithm saying, 'Oh, they like that content.

We want to keep giving it to them because it keeps them on their phones

and I think that's the really vital message here, of any of these apps,

is that their revenue comes

from advertising. Teenagers are being fed content

in a way that is addictive.

If you are fed something,

it means you're given something. In this case,

it refers to content, not food.

The content is addictive

because social media users algorithms. Algorithms are a complex set of rules

and calculations that prioritise and personalise the content a user sees.

But we need to remember that social media platforms use algorithms

to keep users on the platforms for as long as possible

because their revenue comes from advertising. Revenue is the money

a company earns. They're paid by other companies

to use the social media space to promote their products.

This could be seen as social media platforms prioritising making money

over the mental health of users – a worry for parents.

Professor Debbie Sridhar talked about the challenges

of having a teenager addicted to social media on BBC  

World Service Programme, Inside Science.

And so I think

the challenge here, as a parent, listening to this is what you do about it.

And I think the onus has been put on parents and concerned adults

to find solutions on their own.

And that means debates with your child over

what are you are on, are you using this, but it's a losing battle

because it's their entire social network.

Professor Sridhar says

that, when it comes to helping teenagers navigate social media,

the onus has been put on parents to find solutions.

The onus means the responsibility or duty.

Parents need to be able to challenge their children when they need

to, even if this is a losing battle, a fight

they cannot win as teenagers have their entire life on social networks.

OK Beth. I think it's time I reveal the answer to my question.

I asked you

what percentage of thirteen to twenty-four year olds use Snapchat.

And I said it was 80%. And that was,

I'm sorry to say, the wrong answer. Actually 90%

of people aged between thirteen and twenty four

use Snapchat – quite a lot.

OK, let's recap the vocabulary

we have learned from this programme, starting with adolescent –

a person aged ten to nineteen, between childhood and adulthood.

If you are fed content,

you are given content.

This is what the social media platform offers you automatically rather than

what you search for yourself. Algorithms are a complex set of rules

and calculations that prioritise and personalise the content a user

sees. Revenue is the money

a company earns which could come from sales or advertising. If the

onus is on someone,

it's their responsibility or duty.

And finally, a losing battle is a fight

you cannot win. Once again

our six minutes are up.

Join us again soon for more useful vocabulary here at Six Minute

English. Goodbye for now. Bye.