Six Minute English - Social Media Addiction

Introductions

• Host: Neil
• Co-host: Beth
• Topic: Social media addiction and its effects on mental health.

Key Points

• Prevalence of Social Media

  • Popular platforms: Snapchat, TikTok, Threads.
  • Many people spend more time on social media than they would like.

• Impact on Mental Health

  • Studies show social media can be as addictive as gambling.
  • Research in the US:
    • Adolescents (ages 10-19) spending >3 hours/day on social media have double the risk of depression and anxiety.
  • Parents are increasingly worried about their children's social media usage.

• Regulation Efforts

  • US is working on regulating social media apps for teenagers.
  • Health experts suggest the UK should consider similar regulations.

Effects on Teenagers

• Social media negatively affects body image.
• 64% of teens regularly exposed to hate-based content.

Discussion Segment

• Quiz Question:

  • What percentage of 13-24 year olds use Snapchat?
    • Options: a) 70%, b) 80%, c) 90%.
  • Beth guessed 80%, but the correct answer is 90%.

• Content Personalization and Algorithms

  • Social media platforms suggest content based on user behavior.
  • Concerns regarding addictive content, especially for young girls and eating disorders.
  • Algorithms prioritize engagement to maximize advertising revenue.

Responsibilities of Parents

• Professor Devi Sridhar's Insights
  • Parents face challenges in managing teenagers' social media use.
  • The responsibility (onus) is on parents to find solutions.
  • Managing teenagers' social media is difficult as it impacts their entire social network.

Vocabulary Recap

• Adolescent: A person aged 10 to 19, between childhood and adulthood.
• Fed Content: Content that is automatically given to users rather than actively searched.
• Algorithms: Rules and calculations that personalize user content.
• Revenue: Money earned by a company, typically from sales or advertising.
• Onus: Responsibility or duty placed on someone.
• Losing Battle: A fight that cannot be won.

Conclusion

• End of the discussion on social media and its impact on mental health.
• Encouragement to join future programs for more vocabulary learning.