#negative impact of social media on youth

[castielsupernatural]

crazy conversations happening on this statewide mental health advocacy committee meeting i’m on rn

[seohabibi]

In the digital age, social media has become an integral part of the lives of young individuals. However, as its presence grows, so does the need to examine its effects on the mental well-being of the youth. This exploration delves into the intricate relationship between social media usage and mental health, shedding light on the potential benefits and drawbacks. From fostering connections to the risks of comparison and cyberbullying, this examination aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how social media shapes the mental health landscape for the younger generation.

[necroromantics]

How To Write ASPD / Psychopathy

half educational, half ramble. dedicated to the creepypasta fandom.

(check out my how-to-write bipolar + ticci toby here)

What is ASPD?

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is characterized by a disregard for others rights and feelings. It's a personality disorder, which means the mindsets and behaviours associated with this condition are deeply ingrained and maladaptive.

The current DSM-5 diagnostic criteria states that to be diagnosed with ASPD, a patient needs to have a long-term (occurring since at least age 15), consistent, and persistent history of three or more of the following:

failure to conform to social norms; repeatedly breaking rules/laws that may be grounds for arrest

deceitfulness; lying, tricking others for personal gain

impulsivity or a failure to plan ahead

irritability and aggression; fighting, hostility, outbursts

reckless disregard for the safety of self or others

irresponsibility; repeated failure to comply to work or financial obligations

lack of remorse; being indifferent to or rationalizing having mistreated or hurt others

ASPD, by definition, can only be diagnosed in people who are 18+. Minors cannot have ASPD due to treatment and intervention reasons. A minor who exhibits traits of ASPD will be diagnosed with Conduct Disorder.

At it's core, though it may seem like people with ASPD are just hostile and insensitive and rude, is a defense mechanism formed in childhood, typically in response to an abusive environment. Self-preservation and a "dog eat dog world" mindset are very common in those with ASPD. Everything is about doing what it takes to retain social dominance, control, and ultimately safety. Boredom and risk-taking is also very common in people with ASPD, and many people with this condition have never had proper, healthy influences in childhood to teach them proper manners, social norms, morals, or how to regulate their emotions and aggression.

It is a chronic condition that affects about 1-3% of the population. Its very prevalent in the prison population as well. ASPD not only causes a person to potentially cause harm to others, but is a condition that very negatively impacts the patients themselves.

(Note: The term "sociopathy" is typically used to refer to an extreme presentation of ASPD. "Psychopathy" may sometimes be seem as a very very extreme presentation of ASPD)

What is Psychopathy?

Psychopathy refers to a set of traits/issues that might be seen in patients. It is NOT a diagnosis. If psychopathic traits cause dysfunctional behaviour in an individual, they will most likely be diagnosed with ASPD.

Psychopathy is now most commonly used in research settings to use it as a term that describes certain patterns and behaviours. It is something professionals study, not diagnose.

The traits related to psychopathy are:

manipulative behaviour; superficial charm, persistent lying, deceiving others

grandiose sense of self

lack of remorse or guilt; lack of empathy, callousness, shallow emotional expressions

reckless lifestyle; need for stimulation, parasitic (constantly takes from others), lack of realistic long-term goals, impulsivity

antisocial behaviour; poor behavioural control, early behavioural problems, trouble with the law in youth

Not all psychopathic people fit the criteria for ASPD, not all are disordered by their traits, and not all people with ASPD are considered psychopathic. But there is a very big overlap.

Psychopathy is typically only recognized in a forensic or research setting. It is often wrongfully used in the media to describe people who are serial killers, abusive, or used to dehumanize others.

Personally, I believe that media and creators need to move away from the terms psychopath/sociopath. They have far too much negative connotation that only exists to demonize people who suffer with unconventional traits. If you want to write psychopathy correctly, do your research on what it looks like in its presentation, and just drop the label.

What are some harmful tropes with ASPD/Psychopathy in media?

ASPD and Psychopathy have been tossed around in many different settings as ways to cheaply create an evil villain, or a cold calculated monster, or a reckless criminal. There has been only one instance in my lifetime of watching hundreds of movies and shows that I have seen an accurate, humanizing portrayal of ASPD. (That show is House MD by the way, I highly recommend if you want to see good representation).

So what are some of the tropes to acknowledge and avoid?

1. Psychopathic serial killer

Have you seen American Psycho? Great movie. Don't do that. While the character Patrick Bateman is commonly associated with the terms "narcissist" and "psychopath", he also is a satirical character who is a very dramatized and exaggerated presentation of some psychopathic traits.

I will be honest. A lot of real-life serial killers do suffer from various mental health conditions, but correlation is not causation. In the Creepypasta fandom we are surrounded by different characters who are almost all serial killers, and people like to make things easy and just throw the label of "psychopath" onto them and call it realistic. This is very cheap, and very harmful.

If you want to write a psychopathic serial killer character, then acknowledge how harmful, fear-mongering, and dehumanizing this trope is towards people who actually suffer from these traits.

2. ASPD synonymous with abusive behaviour

ASPD is a disorder that does cause people to do and say things that will harm others in some way. Cluster B personality disorders are commonly seen as 'social disorders', as in they cause dis-order in interpersonal relationships, and in response to society. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) for example may cause somebody to threaten harm to themselves in response to percieved abandonment, or to have intense fights due to emotional dysregulation.

ASPD in particular may cause someone to be insensitive towards others problems, lack morality, be aggressive or hostile, put others down, or get into reckless situations. This is why they are disorders. Because they cause significant and serious problems in the persons life.

It is not pretty, and it's not fair, and yes, people with disorders may cause harm to others due to behaviours associated with their condition. But there is a difference between causing harm, and abusing another person.

Lying to someone is not inherently abusive. Being reckless is not inherently abusive. Being an insensitive asshole is not inherently abusive. To not understand the nuance and the complexity of these situations is to completely demonize and stigmatize a serious mental health condition. You don't call people with BPD abusive for their actions inherently, because you acknowledge they are hurting and only doing what they know to cope with this hurt. Of course it's unhealthy. That's what a disorder is. That does not make someone abusive by default. Anyone with any condition, even neurotypical people can be abusive.

3. Cold, emotionless robot

People with ASPD can and do feel emotion. People with psychopathic traits can and do feel emotion. They get sad, disappointed, disgusted, happy, excited, jealous, hurt, angry. There is nothing in the ASPD criteria that states anything about emotional presentation or experience.

In psychopathy, it is mentioned that there may be a shallow emotional expression. This may also be present in ASPD. This means that while a person will feel emotions, it is either beat down or brushed off, or completely repressed. The emotional repression may come from childhood abuse where they were punished for expressing emotions, or expressing emotions had caused them harm.

Lacking emotions/emotional expression is instead highly linked to Schizoid Personality Disorder, and is apart of the criteria for said disorder.

Media protraying people with ASPD/psychopathy as cold, emotionless, calculating robots is another trope used to dehumanize people with mental health issues. It's used to make people with ASPD seem evil or not having feelings that could be hurt. In reality, nearly everything a person with ASPD does, is their dysfunctional way of protecting themselves from being hurt.

People with ASPD may lack the emotional capacity for things such as empathy and remorse, though. Its common that they are unable to care for, or feel upset for others suffering. They may also be unable to feel guilt. This criteria is seen in about 51% of people with ASPD and is associated with more extreme presentations.

Do you headcanon anyone to have ASPD?

Yes, but I don't like to use the label on them. I do write a lot of antisocial mindsets into my headcanons for Ticci Toby, and I heavily write ASPD into my OC, Tobin.

For Toby, his presentation of ASPD comes in the form of rebellion, not understanding/following social norms, recklessness, and a strong desire for power, dominance, and control. I write this as his subconscious response to the trauma he faced in childhood. As a child Toby was constantly put down and made to feel small and powerless at the hands of his father. In order to make sure his father abused only him and not his mother and sister, Toby would act out and be a troublemaker. I think that he would have a lot of ASPD behaviours and views on the world.

For my OC Tobin, he's pretty similar in presentation in regards to power/control, and not following social norms. He is very prone to justifying and rationalizing his behaviours to the point he doesn't feel remorse for the harm he causes. Tobin grew up in a very unstable and abusive environment where, like Toby, he did what he needed to do to get by. He never learned proper morals, norms, regulation, etc. But Tobin does care about others. He takes care of his little sister, and loves his girlfriend, and is very protective. Tobin is still a complex human being with more to him than just being an antisocial insensitive prick.

How can I write a character with ASPD?

Do proper research. Not on Reddit, or Quora, or WebMD. I mean go find trusted, scholarly articles and read real scientific papers and studies on ASPD. Do research into how/why it forms, the mindsets, the symptoms and their presentation, the neuroscience even.

Humanize your characters. While it's fun to throw around a bunch of negative and toxic traits to a character you want people to see as 'bad', it's lazy character development. Give them good, positive traits as well. People are very complex, and nobody will fit in to the mold of good or bad. Make them human enough where someone wont look at your character with ASPD and assume everyone with ASPD are monsters.

But also, don't water down the disorder. ASPD does cause harm to the patient and the people in their life. I've seen it a lot where people will try to fight against stigmatization by completely glamorizing the disorder. "People with ASPD aren't inherently bad! They don't actually hurt others or act hostile or say insensitive things"... Yes we do. And it causes many problems. And that is why its a disorder.

Personally I don't like to throw the ASPD label onto my characters even if I do write them to have ASPD because I feel like it just boxes them in. If you write a character with ASPD, try doing it in a way where a professional would be able to tell they have ASPD without you even mentioning the label.

Remember that ASPD is COMPLEX. It varies vastly in its presentation, its a disorder that is life-consuming and the dysfunctional beliefs and behavioural patterns are deeply ingrained and consistent throughout many different areas in someones life. It's a label to describe preexisting issues. It's something that is highly associated with childhood trauma, and drug addiction, and general suffering for the person dealing with their own chaotic mind.

The biggest problem I see that frustrates me is the way people throw around the terms "psychopath" and "sociopath", especially when someone just wants to add a layer of edginess onto their character. Remember that you are dealing with a condition that real people suffer from every day. If you can't handle it respectfully, and if you would demonize someone with ASPD in real life for acting as your character does, just don't write it in. Keep the label separate. We don't need any more stigmatization and misinformation.

I know this was very long, but it's such a multifaceted and complex issue and I've seen it enough times in the fandom to be frustrated enough to write this. If you have any questions, want more advice or information, please feel free to ask away in my ask box 🔥

[simbistardis]

'I am a Black asexual man. Being an asexual Black man, I have personal accounts of being typecast as some sexually perilous human being, solely due to my melanated skin.'

'The social stereotypes surrounding Black men really had a negative impact on my life. It’s even had an impact even after coming out as an ace. So often, asexual media has been dominated by media figures who fit a certain caricature of being white. The majority of asexual documentaries have featured white aces monolithically. I’ve struggled with even accepting that I’m asexual because all the asexual people I saw were white. Black asexuals have been few and far between, let alone Black asexual men. Not having a multicultural asexual representation growing up made it harder for me to truly accept my asexual identity. Not having a multicultural asexual representation made it all the harder to truly counteract the messaging of my youth that said the only way to be a real black guy was to be some “wild beast.”'

Stereotypes & media about Black masculinity made it harder to come out as asexual by Tyger Songbird for LGBTQ Nation (2023)

[unhetalia]

do you think that Alfred deals with a lot of issues being so beautiful when it comes to both nations and humans? like oversexualization in the media and nations holding him to the "dumb blonde bimbo/himbo" stereotype. i can imagine him, in a nations revealed universe, being held as some stupid looksmaxxing icon (think of Adriana Limas and Brooke Shields reputation) and "Pure American Blonde Beauty". Having cameras constantly in his face trying to capture his "inhuman" beauty, getting excited for interviews only for them to always end up discussing his looks, ect. I would think this would have irreversible effects on his self esteem and body image issues considering how young he is...

Context for this reply -

This (old) ranking I did on who I thought is considered the most beautiful among the Nations.

My headcanon that Alfred has a high IQ.

Headcanon on Alfred having autism and ADHD.

The idea that Alfred finds it hard to build muscle.

One of the reasons my Alfred isn't involved in his own government is because even though he has, over time, developed adequate social scripts, he has always been very obviously 'different'. Pairing this with his looks, and Alfred in the beginning was often infantilised. A symbol. To be seen and not heard. Alfred would have realised very quickly that he was leaving Arthur's thumb only to be under another's - and that they cared about him infinitely less than Arthur did.

I don't know if, back then, his looks would have impacted him negatively if not for his autism and ADHD. But I think the combination of both meant he preferred to be separate from governing bodies.

In World War II, the existence of Nation Guardians becomes public and immediately, Alfred's government tries to prevent him from fighting because they want him to be a symbol. This is what you're protecting, as opposed to this is who is going to protect you. In this case, I imagine Alfred is still young, physically 17. He looks almost fey - but androgynous, slender. This is the difference between making him a symbol of masculinity and allowing him to go off and fight vs their decision to make him a symbol to protect. Of course, Alfred absolutely does not go for that. This is where the bomber jacket comes in - it makes him look bigger. He has big boots, possibly even covers his hair and eyes, often not taking off his aviator hat and goggles. He changes his own image. This is where I think the 'I'm the hero' motto comes in.

By the late 50s, he's physically 19 and this is where he stops aging (how the universe decides this, we don't know). He's taller now at 5'11, and I think the years in the public eye have really gotten to him at this point. This is the point where he's most obsessed about his looks; specifically appearing masculine. He is obsessive about sports clubs, gaining muscle, etc. The thing is, his body is not actually predisposed to bulking up because of his metabolism and super strength.

By the 70s, I think Alfred starts to settle into himself again. Stops trying to mold himself into what's acceptable. Consequently, this is where he gets his worst media. His masculinity is questioned, people try to connect the decline of American society with how 'weird' he's become - basically a moral panic. From this point on, Al's relationship with his government sours immensely.

(2001, it comes to a head when Alfred publicly goes against Bush. This is unrelated to his looks, so I won't go on.)

Around 2010 with social media starting to really take off, Alfred's image changes. He's on tumblr, he's on youtube and eventually he's on instagram. He's briefly on twitter pre-Musk.

Alfred really captivates the youth in a way that isn't just to do with his looks (though his looks continue to come up). He loves anime, he loves animals, he's not wealthy like a lot of other Nations and therefore he's 'relatable'. He does videos where he teaches people how to fix things around their home so environmental activists love him, he always encourages community - soup kitchens, community gardens. He's cool.

To the media, though, he's still just a commodity, and they're focused entirely on his looks. "How to get glass skin like Alfred F. Jones" articles, "The Alfred F. Jones diet - plastic surgeon talks how to naturally get skinny like America's greatest beauty symbol".

Nowadays, I think there are many people who call this out, but it continues. However, I do think at this point Alfred is able to just do his own thing and ignore it. He's an online darling, but mostly people will be talking about the time he accidentally blew up his garage while doing an experiment or the time he skateboarded down the stairs and called it 'a lesson is gravity and physics'.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Ontario government is introducing new measures to crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools as the province sees an "alarming rise" of vaping and cellphone distractions in classrooms.

In an announcement Sunday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province is removing distractions as part of its back-to-basics plan, and addressing the "negative impact" of mobile devices, social media and vaping in classrooms.

"Every parent and teacher we speak to has shared the growing problem of cellphone distractions in class … in addition to the disturbing rise of vaping in schools [among] our youth," Lecce said at a news conference in North York Sunday.

"We will be denying cellphone use during instructional time. We need to be bold, we need to be comprehensive and we need to act with urgency today." [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazilian Child Influencers Promote Bets, and Addiction Threatens Children and Adolescents

Problem affects young people from various social classes; NGO files complaint against Meta

dvertisements for online casinos, including well-known sports betting sites, are being promoted by child influencers on Instagram. One profile promoting gambling belongs to a six-year-old girl with nearly 3 million followers. This type of betting is spreading across the country and is already affecting children and teenagers, with families and schools beginning to confront the addiction among the youth.

The Alana Institute, an NGO advocating for children and adolescents, filed a complaint last week with the Public Prosecutor's Office regarding illegal casino advertising by children and teenagers on social media. The complaint highlights the highly negative impacts of this addiction on youth, including the risk of suicide.

Continue reading.

[beardedmrbean]

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Monday called on Congress to require a tobacco-style warning for visitors to social media platforms.

In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Murthy said the mental health crisis among young people is an urgent problem, with social media “an important contributor.”

He said his vision of the warning includes language that would alert users to the potential mental health harms of the websites and apps.

"A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe," he wrote.

In 1965, after the previous year’s landmark report from Surgeon General Luther L. Terry that linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer and heart disease, Congress mandated unprecedented warning labels on packs of cigarettes, the first of which stated, “Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health.”

Murthy said in the op-ed, “Evidence from tobacco labels shows that surgeon general’s warnings can increase awareness and change behavior.” But he acknowledged the limitations and said a label alone wouldn't make social media safe.

Steps can be taken by Congress, social media companies, parents and others to mitigate the risks, ensure a safer experience online and protect children from possible harm, he wrote.

In the op-ed, Murthy linked the amount of time spent on social media to the increasing risk that children will experience symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The American Psychological Association says teenagers spend nearly five hours every day on top platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. In a 2019 study, the association found the proportion of young adults with suicidal thoughts or other suicide-related outcomes increased 47% from 2008 to 2017, when social media use among that age group soared.

And that was before the pandemic triggered a year's worth of virtual isolation for the U.S. In early 2021, amid continued pandemic lockdowns, Murthy called on social media platforms to “proactively enhance and contribute to the mental health and well-being of our children.”

In January, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about social media’s impact on young people, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents who said the Meta platform Instagram contributed to their children’s suicides or exploitation.

“I’m sorry for everything you’ve all gone through,” he said. “It’s terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”

A surgeon general's public health advisory on social media’s mental health published last year cited research finding that among its potential harms are exposure to violent and sexual content and to bullying, harassment and body shaming.

Murthy also focused in the 2023 advisory on what social media doesn't seem to do: It doesn't always enhance mental health through the proven method of face-to-face interaction.

"For too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends," he said in a statement last year announcing the health advisory.

At a conference about the youth mental health crisis last month, Murthy said, "It’s no longer the culture for people to talk to each other anymore."

He has been careful to note that research on the matter isn’t conclusive, with much of it finding correlations between time spent on social media and negative mental health effects but without establishing cause and effect.

“More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media,” he said in the advisory last year.

And he has acknowledged that social media can help teenagers find community, connection and a place for self-expression.

The companies behind the world’s most popular social media platforms had yet to respond to the op-ed Monday.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, visit The National Eating Disorders Association’s website.

[princesscatherinemiddleton]

William and I are absolutely delighted to be with you in Birmingham, on World Mental Health Day, for our Royal Foundation Youth Forum. Mental health is something we both care deeply about. Back in 2016, we launched Heads Together, a campaign supported by so many wonderful partners, that helped break the stigma around mental health, and encouraged more people to have everyday conversations about it. Alongside the efforts of many others, we have seen real change. Today, more people feel empowered to talk about their mental health than ever before. This is a major step forward. William and I continue to be inspired to see young people, like you all here today, leading this charge - being particularly brave in having some of those conversations yourselves. As a generation, you value and talk more about your mental health than any before you - something we truly admire and applaud. It is important, however, to remind ourselves of the big picture as we meet here today. What are we trying to improve by focusing our efforts on mental health? Ultimately, we are working to build a happier, healthier world. We want to shape fairer, safer, kinder, more equal societies - societies that seek the common good and a better future together. For just as we need to restore, protect and invest in our planet, so we must also restore, protect and invest in the communities, relationships and people living on it. We believe that starts with you, our young people, but it also means all of us. Because when you think about it, we can each shape the world in which we live. So, we know, like you, that simply talking about mental health is just not enough. Because although many more conversations are now taking place, it is now vital we spend more time focusing on how we talk about our mental health - and crucially; What are we going to do, to build positive, preventative solutions to one of today's toughest challenges. Positive mental health is shaped by our ability to understand and manage ourselves as individuals, and to connect with others through our relationships, friendships, families and communities. We are living in a world, however, that is changing so fast, where social media and concerns about the threat of conflict, pandemics, climate change or the cost of living, can impact our emotional wellbeing and future hopes dramatically. On top of this, as young people, this can also be a time in your lives, when you perhaps feel the vulnerability of growing independence and self-consciousness. But, by gaining deeper insight into ourselves, we'll be better equipped, to handle the external challenges we all encounter. Today we heard the science and research that backs this up, and how crucial it is, that we develop the skills needed to navigate everything we will face in the future. William and I believe we need to do all we can as a society to help young people develop the emotional and social life skills they need for good mental health, and to thrive in the world around them. Both learning about the world and learning about how to be happy and thrive within it, should go hand-in-hand. So, if we talk about mental health with this in mind, it need not have so many negative connotations. We can choose to see our emotional worlds and mental wellbeing in a different light, we can normalise it and recognise it as something we all have, and require, as human beings. This will be a key focus for us both as we build on Heads Together. Thank you all so much for joining us today. Together, let's build a brighter, more resilient future.

The Princess of Wales | World Mental Health Day 2023

[cursedbyastro]

Hi!! What are your thoughts on the 3rd degree?? Thank you! <3

© cursedbyastro 2022 - all rights reserved

ultimately, the impact the 3rd degree also depends on the other aspects in the chart such as house placement, degree, house cusp gemini rules, 3rd house ruler, mercury influence in the chart, etc.

☆ the 3rd degree is associated with mercury/gemini and therefore maintains some of its qualities making it influential in your chart for whatever it touches and in the chart as a whole 

☆ mercury is associated with the courage to step out of the comfort zone, speaking, learning, adaptability, communicating, versatility, wit, comedic talents, self-expression, expression, intelligence, skillset, social media, transportation, mannerism, gossip, perception, making connections, etc.

☆ the 3rd degree is ruled by gemini’s energy. gemini loves to communicate. so, it may cause you to be more talkative in the areas that this degree touches and makes communicating and expressing oneself whether that be talking, writing, singing, etc. important for the energy it is affecting. 

☆ makes whatever it touches creative as well as skillful. very crafty and versatile  

☆ can cause a sense of quimsical-ness to whatever it touches. it makes whatever it touches, planet or house, for curiosity and exploration. it can also add a child-like/youthful wonder to these energies. this makes them sharp and intelligent in this area because of their constant quest for knowledge. 

☆ you could also have random knowledge for things of this area and/or it is easier to learn things relating to this area

for example, if your moon is in cancer at the 3rd degree, it might be easier for you to relate or understand how others or yourself are feeling, how to care for yourself and others, maybe even cooking. 

☆ due to gemini being an air sign, it adds airy and light energy to even the most stable and grounded ones 

☆ can also indicate a strong connection to the immediate environment, such as the neighborhood or community, and a desire to interact and communicate with others on a daily basis.

☆ could find yourself have specific patterns or having a secret talent in discovering patterns for whatever this degree affects 

☆ can make whatever it touches easy for constant expansiveness and adaptable

☆ you might prefer a fast-paced environment in this area 

☆ gemini is also a business sign. so this degree can show a specialty for marketing and knowing how to utilize information in the best ways 

☆ makes a native unique and different in a way that is charming in this area

☆ can just know things about whatever it touches without really studying; has just a way of knowing things about this subject like little trivia things   

☆ however, they can also struggle with these things as well. 

☆ gemini also represents “two-faced” ness and can cause a very flippant energy switch at any point from being a genius to a mad man 

☆ can cause a lack of rationality for the energies it touches so the native might be more stubborn to see things for as they are instead of what they could be 

☆ it can also make the native more manipulative in this area and sneaky, so it is important to be truthful as lies can get you in more trouble than good in this area

☆ in these areas that the degree touches, it can cause indecisiveness from the magnitude of options presented so it can overwhelm the native.

☆ because of the nature of gemini/mercury, it is easy for the positive and negative to blend or quickly change

[wingswithin]

Cell Phone Addiction | Mental Health - Wings WIthin

 Mobile addiction is a growing concern. It is easy to get addicted to mobile phones but hard to overcome it. Numerous people around the world are addicted to their mobile phones. The behavior pattern of mobile addicts is more or less the same. 

The cell phone is one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century. According to recent statistics, over 50 crore Indians are using cell phones. While it is true that the advancement of technology has led to many conveniences in our world, it has also brought many other critical issues to us. 

Addiction is a chronic disease and is one of the most intractable health disorders faced around the world. Cell phone addiction is a thriving concern. It is very easy to get addicted to cell phones but difficult to subdue them. A lot of people globally are addicted to their mobile phones. 

NewGen social isolation:

A majority of youths of this generation have become socially isolated because they avoid connecting with people. Thanks to the technology that has turned a vast majority of human beings into impudent fellows. Today, due to cell phone addiction youth tend not to care about their neighbors rather they are more concerned about their online friends across the miles. The internet is a network of online connected servers, desktop computers, laptops and cell phones and societies have no choice than being a part of this network. We keep chasing success when every step of our journey is a success in itself. 

The need of the hour is to guide the kids, students and teens from childhood itself about the disadvantages of the internet. People only post the positive side of their lives including travel, job promotion, lavish dinners with friends, although we are aware that what we see on social media is not completely true. Still it affects us because we end up comparing ourselves with online friends’ standard of living. Either we try to make quick, temporary changes in our lifestyle to feel better or we make an effort to appear better on social media to keep up with our peers. The negative use of the internet in the society is only possible when people don’t know how to use, when to use, what to communicate and what shouldn’t be. People are so deeply involved in the web of the internet that they have no time to spend with their family, friends and relatives which is resulting in losing the social connect leading to them to isolation. 

This condition of being alone increases the risk of mental health problems, negatively impacts the development of the brain’s structure, mental health issues such as depression, dementia, social anxiety and low self-esteem. In severe cases, feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness are exact rebated by our isolation and suicidal tendencies increases. To overcome isolation we need to change our habits and behavior. One can try and engage with family and friends, join a group, talk about it with a therapist. After all, all we need is a healthy social network.

Cell phone addiction, What causes it?

The causes of cell phone addiction are numerous. Cell phones are eating the brains of the younger generation through addiction. The main reasons of cell phone addictions are as follows:

Availability of internet: Internet makes things simpler nowadays and will help us to find anything and everything. The Internet is the major factor which provokes people to use cell phones or smartphones more and more.

Functionalities: Cell Phones provide a wide variety of functions or features to its users. Most of the people check their phone for messages and calls if there is no vibration or ring which is in turn termed as addiction.

Gaming: Video games available on the cell phones or smartphones compel the users to use them more. In the modern cell phone/ smartphone market, gaming is shown as an important feature of the phone which has the capability of poisoning the users.

Signs and symptoms that clearly show that a person is addicted to his/ her mobile phone.

You display ritualistic behaviors around your phone. Examples of this may be checking your phone throughout the night when you wake up. Taking your phone to bed until you fall asleep. Checking your phone first thing in the morning as soon as you open your eyes and frequently being caught up in activities on your phone that you struggle to stop.

Spends more time connecting online than connecting with people in real life.

Neglect or trouble completing duties at work, school, or home.

Sleeps with the smartphone on or under the pillow.

Checking peoples’ profiles repeatedly due to anxiety.

Accidents or injury due to phone use while driving.

Appears anxious when the phone battery is low.

Has his or her mobile phone on the table during meals.

Angry or irritated if phone use is interrupted.

Disturbed sleep because of getting up at night to check phone.

Reaching for the phone the moment they are alone or bored.

Phantom vibrations (thinking the phone buzzes when it doesn’t).

Craving access to a smartphone or another device.

FOMO- Fear of missing out.

Loss of control over the behavior. 

Panics if cell phone is misplaced or service is unavailable.

The thought of losing your smartphone genuinely terrifies you.

You obsessively check your phone even when there are no notification noises

Others have expressed resentment or upset at the amount you use your phone

You neglect your family and friends and struggle to stay present in favor of using your phone.

Withdrawal, feeling irritated and anxious when the behavior isn’t practiced. 

Relapse, picking up the habit again after periods of avoidance.

Mental Health Issues of cell phone addiction.

Undoubtedly, smartphones have become integrated into our everyday lives. When you’re glued to your phone, you miss out on quality time with friends or family and exciting experiences. There are other negative effects of excessive cell phone usage, including the following:

-Insomnia 

-Poor school/college performances

-Poor work performance

-Loss of interest in activities 

-Reduced attention and productivity 

-Depression

-Contributes to relationship stress

-Anxiety

How do you break a cell phone addiction:

Mobile phones have been created for our convenience. We must limit their usage to take charge of our lives. If you feel you are getting addicted to your mobile phone then look for ways to get rid of it. When you set healthy boundaries between yourself and your cell phone, you’re more likely to avoid smartphone addiction.

To break cell phone addiction take a ‘Screen Fast’ by:- 

Keeping yourself on a schedule. 

Turn off as many push notifications as possible. 

Take distracting apps off your home screen. 

Kick your device out of bed. 

If you have a smart speaker, put it to use. 

Try turning on your phone's grayscale. 

Stay accountable.

Set rules around your daily smartphone use.

Make your smartphone less appealing.

Practice phone etiquette

Keep phones off the table.

Designate “no cell” zones in your home

Conclusion: 

Mobile addiction is more serious than what we think. People addicted to mobile phones show all or some of the above mentioned symptoms. It is important to take these signs seriously.  Mobile addiction can ruin our life if it is not stopped on time. Getting rid of this habit may be difficult but it is not impossible. As much as we neglect it, mobile addiction has become a big problem today. It is hampering our professional life and ruining our personal relationships. Mobile phones are causing more harm than good. 

People experiencing the problem of mobile addiction must make an effort to get rid of it and return to the real world. To overcome mobile addiction we need to change our habits and behavior. We must help our loved ones going through this problem. We can help them by talking to them about this problem without being judgmental. Express empathy and be open to their negative reactions. It is difficult to cope up with this problem, but the support from family and friends can be really helpful in overcoming mobile addiction. If this does not help, you should not hesitate to seek professional help. Talk about it with a therapist. After all, all we need is a healthy social network. Source: https://www.wingswithin.in/article/cell-phone-addiction

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Harry says the putative children are mindlessly scrolling at ages 5 and 3? Seriously? by u/Von_und_zu_

Harry says the putative children are mindlessly scrolling at ages 5 and 3? Seriously? https://ift.tt/xewn9Hs does anyone take this moron seriously? Aside from having zero qualifications, he has zero credibility. If, as he claims, his tiny children are "mindlessly scrolling" despite their tender years, who put these devices in their hands? Without safeguards? Without limits? Without appropriate supervision? Where is your personal responsibility as a parent Harold? Or, as a perpetual victim, are you accountable for nothing in your life or in your children's lives? Or maybe you know nothing about parenting? Perhaps because you are never actually parenting? Or is this all just a lie? Is it actually you, your wife, and whatever staff you have left doing the "endless scrolling?" You and your wife are obsessed with hunting down every negative thing said about you and every postivie thing said about the RF and sending out the paid online army to "correct/dunter/distract from the misinformation." Get a life and stop lying and lecturing on subjects you are uniquely unqualfied on. You contribute absolutely nothing of value to the social discourse. Presumably this clip is from the "Insight Session:" described as "Harry sits down with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation: "Haidt and the Duke of Sussex sat down for the intimate discussion about social media and mental health as part of Harry’s Archewell Foundation 2024 Insight Sessions—public conversations, highlights of which appear in a new Insight Report—about the impact of technology, with the voices of youth front and center." Feisty Energy posted about the "Insight Session" yesterday as reported in Fortune Mag: https://ift.tt/KBYGdLa. I will link the post in the comments as reddit will not let me do it in the post. post link: https://ift.tt/EsBgXf7 author: Von_und_zu_ submitted: October 11, 2024 at 12:02PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[body-mind-motion]

Covid-19 & The Government

While recalling the days I spent during the coronavirus outbreak, I remember seeing people in Nepal waiting for long hours in line to get vaccinated. It was when my curiosity regarding the role of government in managing the pandemic and working on its citizen’s health peaked. People learn new things every day but the things people learn from their personal experiences are everlasting. With this belief of mine, I would like to talk about what I observed during the coronavirus outbreak and the conclusions I drew regarding the role of government, with the help of this article. 

My curiosity to understand the responsibility of government during the pandemic, led me to take part in the One Young World Academy ‘Pandemic Preparedness Series’ where I received an opportunity to listen to experts working to handle the pandemic. While taking part in the program, I understood the lack of adequate doses of vaccines in Nepal was a result of a supply chain problem that should have been solved by the government. When borders of countries get closed as coronavirus cases rise, it becomes hard to move materials from one place to the other. It impacted the supply chain a lot. The solution to this problem could be making sure the borders of countries are open when supplying medicines and vaccines. I believe the main role of government in promoting its citizens' health is to ensure that goods are flowing freely across different nations so there is no lack of medicines and vaccines. 

In addition, pre-planning is also extremely important as the government needs to make sure there is a stock of raw materials and components so that there is no shortage of raw materials when the country needs them. After this, the right doses of the right vaccines and medications can be provided to the people in case of an emergency. 

Along with this, during the coronavirus outbreak, there was negativity all around us. Even when people tried to distance themselves from the negativity, I noticed they were still struggling to do so, which led to a detrimental impact on their mental health. Social media, news channels, and several other mediums of communication played a role in conveying the message of how devastating the pandemic is. I realized although spreading awareness regarding the pandemic was important, helping people not to lose hope was equally important as well. It led me to volunteer in the Live Now Regional Campaign for Youth Positivity and COVID-19. Here I contributed by providing content in the format of poems which was published on the website and social media of the Live Now Platform and was shared not only in Nepal but across the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond. Although people individually worked in sectors like mental health and youth positivity, I realized the role of government in Nepal in helping people to have a good mental health status was limited. I believe the government should be working efficiently in the sector of mental health as well for the promotion of its citizen's health. 

In conclusion, the main roles of the government to holistically promote its citizens' health are ensuring there is no lack of raw materials, goods are flowing freely across different nations, and putting equal effort in all dimensions of health. The observation of my country during the unprecedented situation of the pandemic helped me to draw these conclusions and place my beliefs accordingly. 

-Sarwagya Bhattarai

[canichangemyblogname]

This is what you get when wages don’t keep up and greedflation takes over, making many necessities, like a roof over one’s head, inaccessible.

This is what happens when you have less disposable income than previous generations.

This is also what happens when you systematically attack a nation’s education system, schools, and it’s students. Book bans, content bans, speech bans, and student bans have a negative overall impact on the young. This nation’s tendency to underfund schools has also had a negative impact on outcomes.

This is also what happens when you refuse to take action on violence, especially gun violence. A lack of gun reform has turned our children’s schools into battle grounds where everyday they are expected to potentially have to lay down their life for some old man’s civil war fantasy. It’s baffling that no one seems to want to acknowledge the nation-wide PTSD our youth suffer from. Skyrocketing burn out, anxiety, depression, etc… and no one thinks to connect our mental health struggles to our nation’s culture of violence? We make children as young as 3 routinely practice hiding from mass murderers.

This is also what happens when the young are systemically unrepresented in politics.

This is what happens when you create a culture that mocks mental health challenges and mocks the need for support systems.

This is what happens when you systematically defund and neglect community spaces and programs, with major pushes beginning in the 60s to avoid integrating public spaces. The US is suffering from decades of disinvestment and is now reaping what it sowed during the austerity of the Regan and Bush administrations.

This is what happens when you push your medical system to the brink and force Americans to endanger their health, lives, and well-being for the good of the economy. The US’s public health system is chronically underfunded. Our for-profit health system ensures American spend more than any other nation on healthcare, but get nearly jack-shit in return. We do a piss-poor job of investing in programs that keep people healthy.

This is what happens when a corrupt church and religious institutions have long dominated our social and communal systems. Considering how much of the country’s social infrastructure was built around a church, the young-nones who left the bully pulpit behind find themselves faced with a relatively sparse secular social infrastructure outside of the isolation of social media. They realize that we need to radically re-envision “community” in many regards and that the suburban sprawl hell and its zoning laws our grandparents and parents created is antithetical to this. (And so many have turned to media and consuming for that illusion of community. Add to that the lack of third spaces as most “public” spaces are businesses.)

And this is what happens when the bourgeois of the older generations lie about climate change and politicians sit on their assess and pawn the climate catastrophe onto this nation’s children. “I won’t have to worry about this in my life time.” Most of our coast will be unlivable in the coming decades. Large swaths of the country will be too hot and dry to sustain life. Not to mention the worsening air quality, the roll back of water protections, and the increase in severe droughts and crop failures. It *will* happen in my life time.

So, no, NBC, I don’t think tanking youth happiness in the US is due to the fact people no longer get “crunk at the club.” —Sincerely, someone who’s one of those “Gen Z”

[nerdygaymormon]

I just found this blog and I'm so happy it exists. I was raised in the church and with the area I live in, LGBT+ people are "accepted" readily but at the same time... No one talks about it in relation to Members being Queer. It's like everyone ignores the fact that there is at least 1 queer member in the area because "Oh they aren't part of the church" or something. It's confusing and difficult to be out as anything other than CisHetAllo. I have found that as much as I try, and I feel better knowing about myself, I have found it increasingly difficult to talk about the same things in Online spaces compared to Church spaces. Something always seems to conflict, whether it is members not being particularly supportive of LGBT+ or those online judging Anyone who is a member. (I have had some people I consider[ed] friends make some... Negative... Remarks regarding the church and its members.)

I'm glad to see a space like this existing, where I know that I can be both Queer, and a Member of the church, without being "othered"

Thank you so much. <3

I'm sorry you're having a bit of a rough time of it, but you're right, unless someone is saying to everyone "Hey, I'm here and I'm queer," most Latter-day Saints assume there's absolutely no one at church who is LGBT+.

The LDS Church does have a reputation for being homophobic, so if I say I'm Mormon, other queer people will nod their head and say something about how they know that had to be so hard growing up. Also, the LDS church isn't exactly respected by other Christian denominations, they like to speak of it like it's the punchline of a joke.

A lot of people are becoming aware of the research that shows social media negatively affects young people's mental health and well being. It interferes with their sleeping habits and they spend less time in person with friends and developing their real-world social skills. Social media for youth is associated with problems like depression, cyberbullying, eating disorders. Calls are being made to place limits on the amount of time youth can spend online.

However, research shows there's one group of youth for whom social media has a beneficial impact, and that's LGBTQ youth. TikTok, Tumblr, Discord, YouTube, and so on, are a lifeline. They go from feeling completely alone and no one understanding what they're going through to suddenly discovering there's thousands of people who feel the same way, which is eye-opening and comforting. Not that it's universally good, we still run into hateful speech.

Social media allows LGBT people to explore their identities and find acceptance and emotional support. Some research shows there's a decrease in depression and suicidal thoughts for LGBT youth who are online. It gives them hope and a sense of control. Even when they do encounter harmful things online, they can turn it off, which they can't do with a school bully or family members saying offensive things.

I think for queer Mormons, the experience is even more so like that when you find other LGBT LDS people online. They get you in a way no one else truly does. It is like finding a second home with friends & family. It helps build our resilience. Representation matters. Reading words that are how I feel, that gives us hope and courage.

I'm glad you found my blog. I suggest doing a search for #queerstake, you'll find more posts from other queer Mormons and former Mormons. We even have a discord server we call queerward which is a lively place. I know for me it gives me a sense of belonging. If this was a ward or stake in real life, I would move so that I could be part of it, but it's online so I can access it wherever I am.

[cookies-sports]

When I read that "Chelsea FC have condemned the homophobic abuse directed at Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis", I thought that meant they had published a statement.

But it appears they have not. Nothing on their website, nor their social media pages. It was a representative responding to a direct query from Sky News and other journalists.

Bompastor and Bright did speak out against it specifically in their press conference, which I am pleased to see.

(Discussion of homophobia, online harassment, and references to inappropriate comments about youth players below cut)

I understand not wanting more hateful engagement online, especially on Twitter which is a cesspit. Personally, I would have still released a statement to the Instagram page where comments can be completely switched off and there's not a Quote Tweet equivalent to be concerned about. But they don't have comments on the news section of their website and they have previously released statements on their website condemning discriminatory abuse.

That said, I did not see at the time and cannot find anything now (not even a response from a representative) that was said about the homophobic abuse Jess Carter received this year when she announced her engagement to Ann-Katrin Berger. So perhaps I shouldn't be surprised.

Similarly, when Geyse at Manchester United received homophobic abuse after announcing her engagement, I don't remember seeing (and cannot find searching now) any kind of response from Manchester United. Geyse spoke to the news about it and posted her own statement, but I can't find anything from the club.

The LGBT/Pride supporters groups for both clubs, Chelsea Pride and Rainbow Devils, both released statements condemning the abuse of their respective players. But they're also not the clubs.

I've seen some people say that it was just "a few bad apples" or "a tiny minority" being homophobic and abusive. But it wasn't. Yes, there were more positive comments congratulating and celebrating Kerr and Mewis' news, but there were thousands of awful comments. So it wasn't tiny, even if it was a minority.

These clubs should be much better at speaking out in defense of their players and their social media admins should make better use of the blocking tools available on social media sites as well.

At this point, there are some large profile accounts who regularly speak negatively about both women's football and sapphic players to farm engagement. It wouldn't get rid of all the awful response by any means if every WSL and Championship social media account blocked these accounts to prevent them from engaging with their posts, but it would have an impact. Having to screenshot then be a bigoted asshole rather than directing your followers directly to a specific post via quote tweeting can and does reduce hateful engagement.

On another note, I don't even know where to start on the replies and quote tweets that led to them having to close the comments on the post about 17-year-old Lola Brown... Awful comments. Again, teams need to safeguard their players better. There's a reason some teams do not allow any comments on posts about their under-18 players.