Over the holiday season, I took the opportunity to re-engage with LinkedIn and explore the various posts that have surfaced on my feed. Among the threads that captured my attention, the discussions surrounding social media and smartphone usage among adolescents stood out. The data emerging from these discussions is nothing short of alarming.
One particular article that drew me in, titled ‘What We Learned in 2023 About Gen Z’s Mental Health Crisis,’ serves as a detailed resource, shedding light on crucial aspects of this crisis. It’s a must-read for both educators, parents, or others involved with teenagers.
The core premise of this article revolves around the startling rise in teen depression, self-harm, and mental illness, primarily observed post-2010. A succinct summation of its findings can be covered in the following statement:
“We have shown that there is an adolescent mental health crisis, and it was caused primarily by the rapid rewiring of childhood in the early 2010s, from play-based to phone-based. It hit many countries at the same time, and it is affecting both boys and girls, albeit with significant gender differences.”
THE RISE OF THE MOBILE DEVICES
So, what unfolded around 2009/10? In those pivotal years, the main social media platforms underwent transformative changes. Facebook introduced the now iconic ‘Like Button’, and Twitter unveiled the ‘Retweet Button’.
These features, initially unique to their respective platforms, quickly became industry standards and common in other social websites. Accompanied by this shift was the transition from chronological news feeds to algorithm-driven ones, engineered to maximize “engagement”.
A telling remark from one of the engineers involved in the development of Twitter’s retweet button was, “We might have just handed a 4-year-old a loaded weapon,” acknowledging the potential for misuse.
By 2014, the social media landscape had evolved into what was essentially individual, algorithmic addictive content with the ability for personal voice to be amplified. This enabled individuals the power to instantly shame or attack others. This power was mainly used by a small section of the population, particularly those deeply involved in online activities at the political extremes. Nonetheless, these actions had far-reaching effects on society.
From 2016 onward, a younger generation found themselves viewing individual, algorithmic addictive content on their devices. Social Media companies invested heavily in gamification and AI tools to engage users. The outcome is that today’s devices are intentionally crafted to be irresistibly captivating. They use colors, sounds, and vibrations to keep users engaged. Former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris noted that features like “pull to refresh” took inspiration from slot machines and casino games. Designers and engineers painstakingly refine every detail of the device to cultivate devoted users.
THE CURRENT DATA
In the study, conducted online by The Harris Poll among more than 1,000 New Zealand adults, 48 percent of Kiwis surveyed say the amount of time they spend in front of a screen outside of education and work purposes has increased significantly during the pandemic. Consumers reported spending an average of 5.1 hours a day in front of screens outside of work or education, and for many, it’s too much. More than 3 out of 5 New Zealanders (62 percent) admit that they spend way too much time looking at screens, and close to half (49 percent) say smartphones are the gadget that they are spending too much time on.
The results ae just as staggering for our teenagers. One out of every four New Zealand teenagers is dedicating over six hours daily to recreational screen time outside of school, contributing to some of the most extensive internet usage globally. On average, 15-year-old New Zealanders spend two hours and 43 minutes online each day outside of school hours. The weekly total of online hours for our teenagers amounts to 42 hours on average, which is more than double the amount they spent in 2012. This places New Zealand among the top countries for heavy internet use within the OECD, trailing only behind Denmark, Sweden, and Chile.
THE RESULTS
One of the most striking findings is the empirical evidence suggesting that heavy social media usage isn’t merely a correlate but a significant cause of adolescent mental illness and suffering. This revelation underscores the urgent need to address the issue of excessive social media consumption among teenagers.
Furthermore, the evidence paints a compelling picture, establishing a concerning correlation between the internet, social media, smartphone ownership, and depression among Gen Z individuals. This isn’t a mere coincidence but a notable pattern deserving of our attention.
To underscore this correlation, let’s examine the case of New Zealand, my home country. The surge in self-harm incidents in New Zealand began around 2010, coinciding with the widespread adoption of smartphones.
Sadly, this trend aligns with similar patterns observed in other countries worldwide.
These figures closely resemble data emerging from the United States and the United Kingdom, indicating a global trend. As smartphone ownership and social media engagement became more prevalent, a troubling rise in depression followed suit.
Jean Twenge, one of the first to highlight this problem in 2017, investigated various reasons behind this data, aside from social media. Unfortunately, these explanations often fell short. Twenge’s research illustrated that the rise in mental health issues wasn’t solely attributed to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, as some had suggested.
So, what is the root of the problem? Jon Haidt, in his blog, suggests that it stems from the transition from a play-based childhood, characterized by ample unsupervised play—essential for conquering fear and fragility—to a phone-based childhood. This shift obstructs normal human development by consuming time that could be spent on sleep, play, in-person socializing, and fosters addiction while drowning children in social comparisons they can never win.
Social media’s distinctive characteristic is its inherent social nature. If a child faces a sugar consumption issue, it predominantly concerns and affects her individually, and quitting sugar can lead to improved health. Social media, however, operates differently. If a child decides to disengage from social media, they risk being abruptly disconnected from their social group, potentially exacerbating their mental health challenges.
Social media creates a cohort effect, affecting an entire cohort of young people, including those who don’t use social media. It also presents a collective action problem for girls and parents alike. While it might be individually detrimental for a girl to quit Instagram, the collective benefit would be substantial if everyone chose to do so.
So, what can we do to address this issue? There are essentially two dimensions to consider. At a broader global level, there are policies that governments and politicians can put in place. A recent step in the right direction was taken by the National Government in New Zealand when they decided to ban mobile phone use in schools. However, the unfortunate reality is that governments often seem reluctant to establish substantial rules and laws governing social media and internet usage.
OUR PERSONAL STORY
The sad truth is that the responsibility largely falls on parents and families to collectively address this issue. In the following part of this post, I’ll delve into the process my own family went through about a year ago.
Allow me to share my personal story. My wife and I initially had a rule that our children couldn’t have phones until they reached the age of 13. We successfully enforced this rule with our first two kids. However, by the time our third child was 12, there was an extra phone lying around, and everyone else in the family had one. The pressure was mounting, and eventually, we relented. As a result, all five members of our family now have smartphones. Additionally, we have an Xbox at home, and our children enjoy playing a variety of games, with sports-themed ones like FIFA and Basketball being their favourites.
Fast forward to 2023, when I had the privilege of attending a talk by Rob Cope, a prominent New Zealand expert on social media and mobile devices. He advocates for not giving phones to anyone under the age of 18. His presentation and research were eye-opening, highlighting the perils associated with various aspects of device usage, ranging from scams to explicit content and grooming. It was a wake-up call for me, but it was undeniable that my kids already had phones by this point.
After Rob’s talk, I tlked with my wife. I contemplated the purpose of smartphones and how we could use them within our family. Removing them altogether didn’t seem feasible since we had already allowed them, and they played an important role in our family for communication. However, I acknowledged that if they were younger, I would have considered taking the devices away.
Instead, I embarked on the journey of developing a system that could protect our children while accommodating our family’s needs. I compiled a list of rules and expectations, with clear consequences. Today, we have two pages of device rules for our family, rules that everyone is expected to adhere to, with unambiguous consequences outlined.
One notable aspect of our approach is that our children retain their phones even if they make mistakes. The reason for this is that my eldest son has his driver’s license, and there are times when I need to get in touch with him, especially when he is driving alone. By implementing other consequences, we ensure that we maintain the communication function of the phone while addressing behavioural issues. These rules can be found below.
Banbury Family Device Rules
You are ready for mobile phones when they’re mature enough to use them responsibly.
Responsible phone use is firstly about understanding their primary function – Communicating with others.
As your parents we are here to help you develop healthy phone habits, help you manage costs, create family rules, and make sure we are all using phones appropriately.
Code of Conduct
You use your phone primarily for its main purpose – communicating.
Communicate once per day on our WhatsApp Family Chat
You use your computer for its main purpose – completing schoolwork. You are not to install or play games or stream videos or movies.
Mum and Dad can view your phone and laptop when they like.
You are responsible for your phone and computer and the content on the screen.
Social media profiles/ restrictions are set by parents. These are not changed.
All devices are covered with Qustodio or Apple Family Management. This means all searches are recorded and your phone apps, content and online times are monitored.
When people come to our house we acknowledge and communicate with them for 10 minutes.
Rules for phones – No Exceptions
No phones at mealtimes or when eating. Even when eating alone.
No phones in bedrooms, bathroom or toilet.
No walking around on your phone.
No double screening.
Phones and computers are charged in the computer area.
No phones during car rides shorter than 25 km.
Phone curfew – phones must be put away at these times
Milli 8pm, Eli 8:30pm, Asa 9pm, Parents 9pm.
Social Media
| Age | Social Media Apps | Time Limit per day |
| 0 – 12 | 1 | 45 minutes |
| 13 – 16 | 2 | 75 minutes |
| 17+ | 3 | 90 minutes |
Rules for Laptops
Laptops are used at the table or at the breakfast bar.
No gaming, watching videos, watching TV or films on your computer.
Computers are charged in the computer area.
Consequences
If you break these rules you must complete a task from the JoT – Jar of Terror.
This is a jar containing a number of household jobs – washing the car, washing the windows, making the next family meal etc
You are not able to use any of the non-communicating functions of your phone until that task is completed.
Other Links
What we’ve learned about Gen Z’s mental health crisis (afterbabel.com) Life After Babel |
Over 1 in 3 Kiwis Addicted to Screens | Scoop News
Quarter of Kiwi kids spend over six hours a day on screens outside of school | Newshub
shem banbury 
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