Real Life Teens: Social Media Addiction

This new addition to the Real Life Teens guidance series tackles the subject of social media addiction, i.e., the complete absorption that some kids experience in an online world at the expense of real-world engagement, problem-solving, and three-dimensional identity. Featuring interview clips with teens and various experts discussing the considerable downside of too much social media, this title looks at the issue of teens being so wrapped up in Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and the like that they lose the ability to maintain concentration with the people around them. Teens (and, to be fair, adults as well) are also hooked on instant affirmations from others in the form of being “liked” or receiving comments on Facebook, instead of seeking or earning positive feedback from peers, families, and teachers. The large subject of cyber-bullying is also addressed here. The basic question of what constitutes addictive behavior regarding social media comes down to this: can someone go without checking online accounts for an hour? If not, there's a problem. Recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (T. Keogh)