⚠️ The Adolescent Mental Health Crisis

Dialogic #346 Leadership, learning, innovation Your Snapshot​ A summary of the key insights from this issue Teen depression has alarmingly doubled since 2011, with teens reporting more loneliness and less life satisfaction. This concerning trend directly correlates with the rise in smartphone and social media adoption over the past decade. In her article, Jean Twenge rigorously examines and debunks various alternative explanations for the crisis, from the economy to the pandemic. Her analysis...
TomWritten by
Published onUpdated on

Dialogic #346

Leadership, learning, innovation

Your Snapshot
​ A summary of the key insights from this issue

  • Teen depression has alarmingly doubled since 2011, with teens reporting more loneliness and less life satisfaction.
  • This concerning trend directly correlates with the rise in smartphone and social media adoption over the past decade.
  • In her article, Jean Twenge rigorously examines and debunks various alternative explanations for the crisis, from the economy to the pandemic.
  • Her analysis suggests smartphone and social media use, exacerbated by decreasing teen independence, is the primary driver of the adolescent mental health dilemma.

Reshaping Adolescence

In her article “Yes, it’s the phones (and social media),” Jean M. Twenge unveils a disturbing reality: teen depression rates have doubled from 2011 to 2021, accompanied by rising loneliness and declining life satisfaction.

This mental health crisis correlates with increased smartphone and social media use, from the early 2010s, which is reshaping adolescence, see the chart above.

Challenging Alternatives

In an era where mental health is increasingly at the forefront of societal concerns, Jean M. Twenge’s insightful article examines and debunks several prevalent theories that have emerged in attempts to explain this disturbing trend.

From the supposed impact of economic downturns to the alleged influence of academic pressures, Twenge navigates through thirteen theories.

Here are three of the explanations explored in her article, starting with teens perhaps being more open about the challenges they are facing:

  1. Teens More Open About Not Being OK: Twenge counters this by pointing out that objective behavioural measures, such as emergency room admissions for self-harm and suicide rates, have increased in a manner consistent with the rise in self-reported depression. This trend suggests that the increase is not merely due to a change in reporting habits​​.
    ​
  2. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The third explanation Twenge refutes is the COVID-19 pandemic is the root cause of increased teen depression. She notes that the rise in teen depression began well before the pandemic, in the early 2010s. Thus, while the pandemic may have exacerbated the situation, it wasn’t the origin of the problem​​.
    ​
  3. Academic Pressure and Homework: Twenge disputes the notion that increased academic pressure and homework are the primary causes of teen depression. Data shows that U.S. teens spend less time on homework now than they did in the 1990s. Moreover, the average teen spends significantly more time on social media than homework, challenging the idea that academic workload is the primary stressor​​.

Helicopter Coddling

Jean M. Twenge identifies the decline in independence among children and adolescents as a possible explanation for the current mental health crisis among teenagers.

She acknowledges that present-day youth have fewer opportunities to engage in independent activities like exploring neighbourhoods or going out with friends, compared to previous generations.

However, Twenge believes that this trend alone does not fully account for the rise in teen depression. Instead, she suggests that the decline in independence and the impact of digital media such as smartphones and social media work together to exacerbate the mental health crisis.

Bonus 14th

⏭🎯 Your Next Steps
​Commit to action and turn words into works

  • Advocate for school-based digital well-being programs that educate students about the psychological effects of excessive screen time and social media use while promoting healthier digital habits. Involve mental health professionals in developing these programs to ensure they’re evidence-based and age-appropriate.
  • Create safe spaces for teens to discuss their digital habits and social media use, facilitated by a supportive adult.
  • Organise workshops for parents on effective digital supervision, including practical strategies for managing their children’s digital consumption, setting boundaries, and understanding online risks.

🗣💬 Your Talking Points
​Lead a team dialogue with these provocations

  • The Pandemic’s Amplification, Not Initiation: Discuss how the rise in teen depression predates the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging the notion that the pandemic is the sole cause of the mental health crisis. What does this reveal about the underlying, pre-existing issues in adolescent mental health?
  • Homework vs. Social Media Time: Reflect on the finding that despite spending less time on homework than in the 1990s, teens today face higher depression rates. How does this contrast with the significant time spent on social media, and what implications does it have for understanding the real stressors affecting teen mental health?
  • Independence and Digital Overload: Explore the relationship between the decline in teen independence and increased digital media usage. How might overprotective parenting styles, combined with the omnipresence of digital technology, be shaping the mental health landscape for today’s adolescents?

🕳🐇 Down the Rabbit Hole
​Still curious? Explore some further readings from my archive

⟶ New Evidence on Adolescent Mental Health and Social Media | Psychology Today US Surgeon General’s June 2023 report warns that social media can harm youth mental health via excessive usage, harmful content, and displacing healthy activities. Parents should limit and monitor usage, model responsible use, and discuss openly with kids.

⟶ My fight to get screens out of schools | Waldorf Today The article suggests removing screens and technology from classrooms to avoid distractions and negative impacts on student focus and brain development. The author proposes tech-free schools as a solution and calls for government bans on social media and smartphones for minors due to mental health risks.

⟶ Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between | Common Sense Media Explore Common Sense Media’s extensive collection of articles, advice, and parenting tips related to social media.
Last issue today, thanks for supporting the Dialogic Learning Weekly this year. See you again in 2024!

~ Tom Barrett​

Support this newsletter

​Donate by leaving a tip​

​Encourage a colleague to subscribe​​​​​​

​Tweet about this issue​

The Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I write and create. I recognise their continuing connection and stewardship of lands, waters, communities and learning. I pay my respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and those who are emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

​Unsubscribe | Update your profile | Mt Eliza, Melbourne, VIC 3930