Psych 600 Wk 4 Discussion Adolescent Challenges

During adolescence, we start to see significant strides towards independence, changes in maturity, and the increased need for social and peer interaction. Today, we are seeing a popular shift in the use of social media as it is being integrated daily into the lives of children. According to a recent study, “Up to 95% of youth ages 13–17 report using a social media platform” (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023). “Although age 13 is commonly the required minimum age used by social media platforms in the U.S., nearly 40% of children ages 8–12 use social media.” Respond to the following in your discussion: • Discuss both the positive and negative effects of social media on the developmental milestones (cognitive, social, and neurological) related to adolescence. • Discuss how social media directly affects mental health and social skills. Be sure to include behavioral aspects including identity crisis, social media, teen suicide, and risky behaviors. • Discuss how social media may have different impacts across genders and cultures.