In a world where everyone seems to be living and breathing social media, our mental health is definitely at stake. These new forms of media — where our interactive participation takes a big chunk of our time every day – have greatly affected us whether we admit it or not.
Scandalous content, disturbing gossip, upsetting reports about war-torn countries, anxiety-causing news about calamities… these and more are bombarding our sanity whenever we go online. Social media is indeed the perfect avenue for sharing all these kinds of information 24/7.
If we grown-ups feel like cringing when watching violent news, imagine the effect it has on our little children. It can cause them to suffer PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)-like symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental disorder that progresses from experiencing or witnessing a scary, dangerous, or terrifying event. That content about a group of teens mauling their classmate, the video that shows the inappropriate behavior of an adult toward a juvenile, or the lifeless bodies of the school children being carried away from the school-shooting frenzy, plus the many other distressing content that we unintentionally forget to block from their sight, all these create a negative impact on their young minds. By constantly watching these kinds of stories, they are prone to long-lasting effects of stress and anxiety, leading to second-hand trauma or what we call vicarious trauma.
Vicarious trauma is a type of trauma that can potentially affect people of any age. It is a mental condition where indirect exposure to a traumatized person makes him/her imbibe that person’s suffering and stress. Frequent watching of violent and startling videos and shows crumbles our sense of safety. And for kids to wallow in this situation, they, for sure, will have difficulty thriving and trusting.
Similar to PTSD, some signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma are:
– heightened anxiety, leading to mood swings
– panic attacks, increased heart rate and pulse
– social isolation
– weakened motivation, low self-esteem
– feelings of being helpless and persistent sadness
Regardless of what symptoms your child is experiencing, it is important to listen to them and establish a bedrock of emotional, social, and physical security. Parenting practices such as endearing hugs and affirmations, or family activities like vacationing, can help in reducing the impact of vicarious trauma.
It is hard to imagine a life without social media. These online platforms for sharing ideas and information is here to stay and will grow more into a complex, exciting space for people of all ages. As parents or as adults, helping children know about digital etiquette and safety is a must. That’s the first step for them to have a good and productive relationship with social media, knowing that negative things may come at them, but that they could limit what they consume online.
