Mind the Middle Project: Social Media, Peer Pressure, and the Relentlessness of the Information Age, a guest post by Melanie Conklin

According to the National Institutes of Health¹, up to 95% of youth ages 13–17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.”² Although age 13 is commonly the required minimum age used by social media platforms in the U.S., children often gain access at far younger ages. It’s easy to brush off that kind of rule breaking as harmless, seeing as everyone is on social media, but it’s critical for those of us who did not grow up with this technology to understand the effect it can have on a developing mind.

None of us who are currently parenting young people know what the long-term effects of social media use will be for our children, because they are the first young people to grow up in the Information Age. Anyone who matured prior to 2008 (and the introduction of the smart phone) didn’t grow up with hand-held digital devices capable of running the gaming and social media apps we are all familiar with today. However, multiple accredited scientific studies have found a correlation between screen use and brain atrophy, particularly in the frontal lobe, which governs executive function and impulse control. The take-away from these studies is clear: “excessive screen-time appears to impair brain structure and function.”³

While that information is certainly alarming, what’s even more concerning is how these dopamine-rich apps make young people vulnerable to bullying, harassment, and peer pressure to a degree never seen before. Prior to the Information Age, children who experienced these behaviors at school could at least get a respite at home. Now, social media follows them wherever they go, with apps designed to be as addictive to the human brain as possible, keeping them trapped in potentially harmful communication twenty-four-seven.

The effects of such constant social pressure on young minds isn’t entirely clear, but according to Yale Medicine, “mental health issues among teens have been rising for more than a decade, and some experts wonder how much social media use is to blame.”⁴ In 2023, the United States Surgeon General issued a report stating the social media is harming young people’s mental health, and the American Psychological Association issued a health advisory for social media use in adolescence. On the flip side, the positive social interactions that are possible on social media can also be beneficial to young people, promoting feelings of connectedness, creativity, and community. The trouble seems to arise when social media use interrupts healthy sleep and exercise patterns, and when it exacerbates underlying mental health issues. As with most major technological advancements, it’s taking some time for us to figure out what the best guidelines are for social media use, for both kids and grownups.

What’s clear to me as an author is that it’s critical we talk with our young people about the many facets of social media use, even if those conversations are at times uncomfortable. One of the key pieces of advice from experts studying these issues is that early and transparent communication can mitigate the negative effects of social media on a young person’s mind. Making a rule for the age a child will get a smart phone and sticking to it is critical, as is keeping phones out of the bedroom to ensure healthy sleep (which most of us adults need to do as well!), but more than anything, what helps prevent harm is talking about the benefits and dangers of social media openly and honestly.

These times are challenging for parents and educators alike, but books can help. Fiction that discusses social media use is not only needed, but critical for increasing awareness about these issues among readers of all ages and supporting healthy boundaries for social media use. My new middle grade novel, Crushed, centers on social media, consent, and boundaries, and features a Greek chorus of voices sharing their opinions on the situation that will challenge readers to decide what they think is right. I hope that Crushed offers a refuge to young people as they navigate the challenges of growing up in the Information Age, and that Sophie’s story will start conversations that lead them to healthier, happier lives.

CITATIONS

1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594759

2

Vogels, E., Gelles-Watnick, R. & Massarat, N. (2022). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. United States of America. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/

3

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-time-damages-the-brain

4

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide

Meet the author

Melanie Conklin grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer before she began her writing career. She is the author of middle grade novels Counting Thyme, Every Missing Piece, A Perfect Mistake, Crushed (2024), and her debut picture book, When You Have to Wait. Her books have won awards such as the International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choice Award, Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and nominations to seven state reading lists. When she’s not writing, Melanie spends her time doodling and dreaming up new ways to be creative. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.

About Crushed

A heartfelt middle grade story about changing friendships, peer pressure, and the courage to speak up when lines are crossed, perfect for fans of Starfish and Finally Heard. 

Sophie Valentine would rather be at home, doing school virtually. Instead, she’s waiting in a crowded middle school building for her best friend, Eve, who’s finally back after an extended absence, which only Sophie knows the truth about.  

But when Eve returns, things aren’t the same. First, Eve stops walking to school with her in the morning. Then, she’s ditching Sophie to hang out with the Crash Crew, a group of popular kids notorious for their social media dares. Eve seems to fit right in, but Sophie is devastated: Did she just lose her best friend? 

When rumors surface that Eve is hiding a painful secret she didn’t share with Sophie, Sophie is spurred on an investigation to discover what—or who—caused the incident behind Eve’s sudden change…and why all clues lead back to the Crash Crew. Using lessons from her forensics class and the help of a new friend, Sophie will have to uncover the truth before more harm is done. 

ISBN-13: 9780316509176
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 07/16/2024
Age Range: 8 – 12 Years

Filed under: Guest Post