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YouTube is an online platform that allows anyone to upload and or stream videos for free. The content made available to children can be for both entertainment or educational purposes.

The impact of YouTube on children's cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development is a topic of growing interest. - Research by Dwi Asmiarti and Guntur Winangun suggests suggests that YouTube can serve as a beneficial tool for enhancing cognitive skills in young children.

On the other hand, Stephanie Morse, a registered psychologist, sheds light on the potential negative impacts of YouTube on children's mental health in her article "YouTube: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly".

Additionally, Dahlia Henderson and her colleagues discuss the type of content that infants and toddlers are exposed to on YouTube in their study "YouTube For Young Children: What Are Infants and Toddlers Watching on The Most Popular Video-Sharing App?".

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Physical development: YouTube's sedentary nature can contribute to a decrease in physical activity among children, potentially leading to health issues such as obesity. However, YouTube may also offer exercise and movement-based videos that encourage children to engage in physical activities and promote their physical well-being.

Cognitive development: YouTube provides a variety of educational content that can help children learn about several subjects. Presenting information in engaging and interactive formats can stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Nonetheless, the overconsumption of YouTube content may lead to attention issues and decreased focus, affecting cognitive development negatively.

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Socio-emotional development: YouTube's influence can be both positive and negative. On one hand, children can learn valuable social skills by engaging with content that promotes empathy, cooperation, and emotional intelligence. On the other hand, exposure to inappropriate or harmful content on YouTube can have adverse effects on children's emotional well-being, leading to anxiety, stress, or desensitization.

In conclusion, while YouTube can offer valuable educational content and opportunities for learning, it is essential for parents and caregivers to monitor and guide children's online experiences to ensure a balance between the benefits and potential risks associated with YouTube consumption

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Asmiarti, D., & Winangun, G. (2018). The role of YouTube media as a means to optimize early childhood cognitive development. MATEC Web of Conferences, 205, 00002. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201820500002

You Tube: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. (n.d.). https://www.acpcpsychology.com.au/blogDetail.php?You-Tube-The-Good-The-Bad-and-the-Ugly-48

Henderson, D., Bailes, T., Sturza, J., Robb, M. B., Radesky, J. S., & Munzer, T. G. (2024). YouTube for young children: what are infants and toddlers watching on the most popular video-sharing app? Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdpys.2024.1335922

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The use of social media can have negative and positive effects on one's mental health. Excess use is known as "Facebook addiction." Studies have shown that excess social media hurt self-esteem, increased anxiety/depression, stress, eating disorders, loneliness, & decreased life satisfaction. NCBI. (2023, August 3). Negative psychological and physiological effects of social networking site use: The example of Facebook. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10435997/​

Studies & statistics done by the CDC show that the rates of suicide have significantly risen since Facebook became more popular among adolescents and young adults. The increased use of Facebook has led people to seek psychotherapy and antidepressants to cope with the destructive effects social media has had on their mental health. Since smartphones are everywhere, it has not been easy to restrict the use of social media. Walsh, Dylan. (2022, September 14). Study: Social media use linked to decline in mental health. MIT Sloan. https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/study-social-media-use-linked-to-decline-mental-health​

Prolonged use of social media can also negatively impact physical health. Too much screen time decreases activity levels, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Excess screen time may also lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Reports also show somatic symptoms such as headaches and vision problems in people who spend too much time on social media, such as Facebook. Gambini, Bert. (2022, January 25). Social media use tied to poor physical health. Welcome to the University at Buffalo - University at Buffalo. https://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2022/01/social-media-physical-health.html​

Social media can also positively affect people because it allows us to feel connected to family, friends, and people we may know. Platforms such as Facebook allow people who are uncomfortable verbalizing their problems and situations to have a voice online. Facebook in moderation, can also enable people to express their thoughts and creativity. Jacobson, S. (2023, March 4). Psychological impact of Facebook - Harmful or beneficial? Harley Therapy™ Blog. https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/psychology-of-facebook-social-networking.htm​

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A study found that Twitter use can lead to a decrease in well-being, and an increase in political polarization, outrage, and a sense of belonging. ​

Education​

Twitter can be beneficial for learning and communication, and can increase engagement and collaboration among students, teachers, and peers. However, some studies have also highlighted negative aspects of using Twitter in education. ​

Misinformation​

Twitter can be used to spread rumors and alter public perceptions, making it difficult to counter lies or explain complex truths. ​

Teenagers​

Social media can negatively affect teenagers by depriving them of important social cues that they would usually learn through in-person communication. This can lead to increased anxiety, insecurity, and callousness. ​

A survey conducted by Moran et al. (2011) reveals that social media tools have been quickly adapted for use in the classroom, with more than 80% of the instructors surveyed admitting that they used some form of social media in their classrooms. In response to this increasing use, the researchers have analyzed ten studies assessing the relationship between social media and student engagement as well as grades.

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Attention Span: The constant stream of notifications and quick, engaging content can lead to reduced attention spans and difficulties focusing on tasks requiring sustained concentration.​

Physical: Promotes a sedentary lifestyle and can disrupt sleep.​

Socio-Emotional: Eases social connections but can also lead to mental health issues.

Mental Health Risks: Exposure to negative interactions, such as cyberbullying or harmful content, can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The pressure to present a curated image can also affect self-worth and emotional well-being.​

Sleep Disruption: The blue light emitted by screens can interfere with sleep patterns, potentially causing sleep deprivation. This can negatively affect overall health and development.

Daily Lifestyle: Prolonged use of social media often involves extended periods of sitting, which can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. This lack of physical activity can lead to health issues such as obesity, poor posture, and cardiovascular problems.

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Tik Tok's short form video format is designed to be addictive for the consumer. The app's algorithm is designed to play videos that will keep the user as engaged and stay on the app for as long as possible. It does this by reviewing what type of content the user watches consistently and interacts with the most.​

Prolonged exposure to these short videos (which can last as short as 15 seconds) leads to quick, constant stimulation resulting in shortened attention spans and difficulty focusing on longer tasks or engaging in deep thinking. Having a shortened attention span can reduce cognitive performance, impair learning and memory and may also increase stress and frustration.​

As with other apps, Tik Tok implements specific interactions such as liking, commenting and sharing which leads to dopamine overload. The brain is conditioned to seek constant stimulation and instant gratification. When a comment or post is liked, shared or commented on, the user gets a notification which sets of dopamine receptors, the brain's pleasure neurotransmitter. Over time the brain is conditioned to seek these interactions which ultimately impacts the user's patience and emotional regulation leading to poor mental health. (Yakobus, etc, 2023) Yakobus, I. K., Suat, H., Kurniawati, K., Zulham, Z., Pannyiwi, R., & Anurogo, D. (2023). The Use Social Media’s on Adolescents’ Mental Health. International Journal of Health Sciences, 1(4), 425–438. https://doi.org/10.59585/ijhs.v1i4.161​

Exposure to idealized lifestyles and images can also lead many children to unrealistically compare their own lives or circumstances. While this may benefit few by encouraging self-growth and upward mobility in life, it often discourages many and leaves feelings of inadequacy or anxiety as they compare their own lives to unrealistic portrayals of others. (Beyari, 2023) Beyari, H. The Relationship between Social Media and the Increase in Mental Health Problems. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 2383. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032383​

Despite content moderation safeguards, Tik Tok often exposes children to inappropriate or harmful content. This includes many topics such as hate speech, racism, abuse, graphic violence, nudity, pornography, misinformation or fake news, encouragement of self-harm, suicide content, scams, fraud, dangerous challenges etc. There have even been instances where social media has "likely contributed" to a person's suicide or death. (Reynaldo Gonzalez vs Google, 2002) North London Coroner’s Service, “Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths”, 13 October 2022, https://www.judiciary.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2022/10/Molly-Russell-Prevention-of-future-deaths-report-2022-0315_Published.pdf​

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Most used Social Media Platform by Users (Active Monthly)

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Most used Social Media Platform by Users (Active Monthly)

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Global population as of 2024- 8.2 Billion​

Facebook- 3.07 Billion Users​

Youtube- 2.5 Billion Users​

Whatsapp- 2 Billion Users​

Instagram- 2 Billion Users​

TikTok- 1.6 Billion Users​

WeChat- 1.3 Billion Users​

Twitter/X- 611 Million Users​

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Dixon, S. J. (2024, July 10). Biggest social media platforms by users 2024. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/