Psychologists recommend limiting teenagers’ access to videos with influencers and artificial intelligence

Internet and social media use by children and teens can be a difficult topic for parents, but it can have a huge impact on the lives and health of teens. That’s why the American Psychological Association has released a series of new research-based recommendations for families with teens, especially those who engage in video viewing.

In an increasingly connected world, teenagers are spending more time online than ever. YouTube and TikTok are the top social media platforms for teens, who spend an average of 4.8 hours a day online, according to Gallup 2023 Report. The APA report, released Wednesday, outlines the risks and potential dangers of videos to children, as well as strategies to reduce them.

Many of the recommendations made this week echo what the APA and other medical experts and officials have said. years: The Internet can be a great resource for education and community building, but it can also pose health risks, especially around body image and self-harm, and also pose the potential for fraud and exploitation. In addition to these ongoing recommendations, this year’s report also examines new developments such as AI-powered photography and video.

You can read full reportbut here are the main points.

Pay attention to videos that promote risky behavior.

From refrigerators to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little easier.

Many recommendations concern what videos teens watch. The APA advises teens to limit viewing of videos that “encourage aggressive or risky behavior and/or reinforce negative stereotypes.” This can cover a lot of different content. A few examples that are cited in the report are stunt videos such as dangerous dares or dares, exposure to substance abuse, and aggressive or violent content.

On the other hand, the council recommends viewing more content that “promotes empathy, learning, emotional well-being and joy.” The report mentions the impact this can have on teens’ understanding of relationships and their ability to recognize and build healthy relationships. Videos can help teens develop healthy relationship skills or reinforce prejudices, negative attitudes, and stereotypes.

From refrigerators to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little easier.

Talk about how to recognize paid, deepfake, and AI content.

As artificial intelligence services improve, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine which content is created by artificial intelligence and which is created by a real person. Therefore, being able to recognize AI content is an important skill. The report highlights the importance of teaching teens to question the content they see, whether it’s recognizing an unattainable body shape or a deliberately manipulated figure. deepfake. Some social media platforms automatically flag posts that use artificial intelligence, but they not always reliable.

The report also highlights the powerful persuasive power that influencers can have on teenagers. Helping teens understand the difference between a paid promotion and a personal recommendation is another way to help them gain critical media literacy. The APA also emphasizes that influencers should “promote healthy, realistic messages” if they have a teen audience, and platforms should play a role in protecting young users from unhealthy content.

Screen time limits are (still) important

One of the most reliable and important digital health tips is to remember to step away from your screens. It’s old, but useful for some reason. For teens, “excessive screen time contributes to a loss of opportunity in other activities that are critical to adolescent development, including sleep, exercise, exploring and participating in hobbies… and in-person social interaction,” the APA says.

The APA does not specify a recommended screen time limit in this report, but World Health Organization recommends less than 1 hour for children under 5, while other experts recommend adults limit their excessive screen time for their physical, mental and even financial health. For families trying to set boundaries, my CNET colleague Vanessa Hand Orellana. writes that families should find screen time rules that work for them and try to be flexible as needs may change as children get older.

See more details. What’s in the new teen Instagram accounts? And best screen time management apps.