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C: CURRENCY

The timeliness of the information

R:RELEVANCE

The importance of the information
for your needs

A:AUTHORITY

The source of the information

A:ACCURACY

The reliability, truthfulness and
correctness of the content

P:PURPOSE

The reason the information exists

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The CRAAP Test is a series of questions to help you decide whether a source is credible. ... CRAAP stands for “currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.” You'll need to examine each one of these components to decide whether a source is crap or whether it's worthy of inclusion in your research paper.

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C: This video was posted on November 24, 2019

R: This information relates to my topic and how to follow the CRAAP format. After looking at a variety of sources I have chosen this video.

A: The creator of this video is "Wintec City Library" this account is a city libraries and they are qualified to teach this. There also is contact information.

A: The information comes from The Wintec City Library, The information provided is backed by evidence and is true. The tone seems unbiased and free of emotion.

P: The purpose of the information is to teach teens or kids what the CRAAP format is. The authors make their intentions clear, the information is fact not opinion or propaganda.

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2312792/Dejah-Reed-16-hospitalized-collapsed-lung-pneumonia-warns-teens-Cinnamon-challenge.html

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C: There is no date for when the information was published. My topic does not need current information for this article to be relevant.

R: This information does relate to my counterclaim and the intended audience is young teens. The information is at an appropriate level. I have looked at a variety of sources and chose this one. I would be comfortable citing this source in my research.

A: The publisher of the article is "pearllandisd.org" it is an independent school district. The author is qualified to write on the topic. There is a phone number and address at the bottom of the page. The URL does not reveal anything.

A: The information comes from "Webwise" and the information is not supported by evidence. The information has been reviewed and I can verify the information from personal knowledge. The tone seems unbiased and free of emotion.

P: The purpose of the information is to show young teens what to do and what not to do on the internet. The author makes their intentions clear. The information is fact not opinion or propaganda.

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Social media can be a lot of fun. Sharing the photo you just snapped with your phone. Connecting with friends after school. Jumping into an online conversation about your favorite music group.

But for all the pros of social media, there are also many cons. Your digital footprint -- what you post and what is being tracked online -- lasts forever. Not only is it searchable and copyable, but it can also be viewed by almost anyone (including college admissions staff and your future boss).

Unlimited opportunities lie ahead of you. Protect your future by making good decisions now. A good rule of thumb: If you wouldn't say it in person, don't say it online. Think before you post!

Social Media Do's*:

Do: Think about how you present yourself online, including your profile image and your language. You are creating an online reputation that stays with you forever.

Do: Know who can access your personal information. You may be able to decide what parts of your profile others can access, but assume everything is public unless you learn otherwise. Sometimes "private" means everyone can see what's on your profile, but only your friends can post comments or contact you.

Do: Trust your instincts if something doesn't feel or look right. If something online makes you feel uncomfortable, talk to a trusted adult.

Do: Think before posting your personal information. As soon as your information goes online, you can't control who sees it and how it's used. This means your photo could be shared almost instantly with thousands of people or even altered/distorted digitally. If you wouldn't want everyone to see it, don't post it.

Do: Think before sharing others' personal information, including tagging photos without their permission or sharing their personal life with the world. They deserve privacy as much as you, so help protect it.

Social Media Don'ts*:

Don't: Assume everyone you meet online is who he or she seems to be. Anyone can create a user profile pretending to be someone else -- even on social media sites that claim to connect students from the same school.

Don't: Post information that could lead someone to you offline. Avoid posting photos that include license plates or identifiable landmarks or messages that indicate your typical hangouts. Over time, people can piece together detailed information about you.

Don't: Reply to harassing or disturbing messages. Cyberbullies want to know they are making you worried or upset -- and want a reaction from you. Instead of responding, remain in control by talking to a trusted adult.

*Adapted from Webwise "Social Networking Advice for Teenagers"

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Parents / Students: Social Media Do's and Don'ts

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Social media can be a lot of fun. Sharing the photo you just snapped with your phone. Connecting with friends after school. Jumping into an online conversation about your favorite music group. But for all the pros of social media, there are also many cons.

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C: This article was made on November 20th, 2014. This article was made a long time ago but it still talks about and brings light to the challenges that teens are doing.

R: The information is relevant to my topic. The intended audience is meant for parents and people who are worried about children doing these challenges and why they are doing them.

A: The author of this article is Carolyn Kimmel, It was posted to "PennLive" The author is not qualified to write on the topic. There is contact information.

A: The information comes from "PennLive" it is a reliable source of information. All of the information is proven with statistics and facts. The language seems unbiased and there are no spelling or grammar errors.

P: The purpose of the information is to let parents know what their teens may be doing for clout on the internet. The author makes their intentions clear, the information is fact.

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Cinnamon challenge? Choking game? Social media luring kids to try dangerous stunts

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Some of the challenges have been around for years, but popularity on social media is luring more children to post images of them taking risks involving anything from swallowing dry cinnamon on setting oneself on fire with alcohol.

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https://www.wfla.com/wfla-plus/5-most-dangerous-social-media-challenges-to-warn-your-kids-about/

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C: This article was made in 2012, even though it was a long time ago it discussed very dangerous challenges people still try today.

R: This information is relevant to my topic.

A: Made by "ABC News"

A: I know this article is accurate because it was posted by "ABC News" a somewhat reliable news company.

P: The reason this article exists is because it is showing parents what teens are doing. It also talks about how their own kids could potentially try these challenges.

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Sept. 28, 2012— -- David Nuno became the latest teenager to die in a freak accident this week trying to duplicate a stunt he saw on YouTube called the "good kids' high."

Nuno, 15, and his two friends were watching a YouTube video of how to pass out on purpose before trying it out on Tuesday, Chula Vista Police Capt. Gary Wedge said.

Just like in the video, Nuno was standing before he lost consciousness. When he fell forward, he crashed onto an empty drinking glass and broke it with his collarbone, allowing the shard to slice through his interior and exterior jugular arteries.

His friends didn't see the blood until they rolled him over, prompting one to race down the stairs to find Nuno's father, Wedge said. As Nuno regained consciousness, he realized he was bleeding and ran down the stairs just as his father was running up to help him. As his father applied pressure to the wound with a towel, Nuno collapsed on the floor.

Emergency responders arrived and tried to stop the bleeding, but Nuno's pulse disappeared. They performed CPR, but he died shortly after he got to the hospital, Wedge said.

"Anytime a teen dies, it's tragic," Wedge said, adding that he'd never seen anyone try to asphyxiate himself to get high before Tuesday, but he's learned "it's much more common than people realize."

Nuno's death isn't the first like it - not even the first this month. A 12-year-old suffocated to death in Wisconsin trying to achieve a pass-out high last Thursday.

The Dangerous Behaviors Foundation asked victims' parents to report choking game deaths and recorded 416 fatalities as of last September.

Emergency rooms are seeing more and more teens with injuries that result from emulating things they see on YouTube videos that include the choking game, and other more innocuous sounding but deadly games such as the "cinnamon challenge," the "salt-and-ice challenge," " chubby bunny" and even extreme fighting.

Dr. Thomas Abramo, the chief of pediatric emergency medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said he sees all of it in his ER. Although teens have acted on risky behavior fads throughout his 30-year career, he said he's seeing trends catch on faster than ever before, and he thinks it's because of YouTube and social media.

"If you get one kid doing it, you tend to see more kids doing it," said Abramo, who said two of his patients have died playing the choking game. "The spread of the event is definitely faster."

One challenge that scares Abramo involves being hit on the head with a bench or a folding chair to "see if you can take it," he said. A lot of the time, they can't.

"Fractures, concussions, lacerations," Abramo said. "Just the things you would think would happen."

"Once you see some of these videos, you go, 'Oh my God,'" the doctor said. The "Darwin award" videos, which involve varying dangerous challenges, are the worst he's seen. "Survival of the stupidest. I can't believe it happens. It defies logic," Abramo said.

YouTube's guidelines prohibit content that encourages dangerous behavior, but 72 hours of new video are uploaded each minute, according to YouTube statistics, making it difficult to prevent dangerous content being posted.

"We count on our users to flag content they believe violates the rules," a YouTube spokesman said. "We review flagged videos around the clock and remove all those that violate our policies."

Dr. Alan Hilfer, a child psychologist at Maimonides Medical Center, said he thinks the existing videos validate risky behavior for teens and give them a way to get notoriety if they post a video. He said he hears a lot about YouTube's amateur ultimate fighting videos, which show teen fights with are no rules -- just bare knuckles.

"A kid showed me his video of that, and it was appalling," he said. "These kids were beating each other to a pulp, and kids were standing around and cheering until somebody gave up."

Hilfer, who has worked as a child psychologist for four decades, said videos also validate anorexia and cutting by making them seem normal.

"When I first came into the field, nobody cut," he said.

However, Dr. Carol Bernstein, a psychiatry professor at New York University's Langone Medical Center, said she doesn't think YouTube alone is to blame for teens engaging in challenges that could seriously injure them because many factors are involved. She said other environmental factors, physiology, and temperament contribute to a child's decision to emulate a video.

"Stress here should be on knowing our children, watching behaviors and having conversations with them," Bernstein said. "There's no substitute for parents and teachers who are engaging with their kids in general."

She said if parents discover their child is hurting himself or herself in any way, they should have a conversation with that child. If necessary, she said parents should reach out to a pediatrician to see if he or she should be evaluated by a child psychologist.

"The message here if for parents to not be afraid to have conversations with their children," she said. "We need to do that.

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Dangerous Stunts Seen on YouTube Hurting, Even Killing Teens

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Dangerous stunts seen on YouTube from the “choking game” to “cinnamon challenge” send kids to hospital and sometimes to their graves.

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C: This article was posted in October 2021.

R: This information does relate to my counterclaim, and the intended audience is for people trying to make their mental health better using social media. The information is at an appropriate level. I would be comfortable citing this source in my research.

A: The authors of this article are Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith M.A. The author is qualified to write on the topic. There is contact information on the bottom of the website. The URL does not reveal anything significant or important.

A: The information comes from 2 doctors. The information is supported by a lot of evidence. The information has been reviewed multiple times. The language and tone seems unbiased and free of emotion. There are no spelling or grammar errors.

P: The purpose of the information is to help people who want to fix their mental health by using social media. The authors make their intentions clear in the article. The information is fact, not opinion or propaganda. There are no political, ideological, cultural or religious beliefs in this article.

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teen issues
While many of us enjoy staying connected on social media, excessive use can fuel feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, and FOMO. Here's how to modify your habits and improve your mood.

The role social media plays in mental health

Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your mental and emotional health.

In today's world, many of us rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to find and connect with each other. While each has its benefits, it's important to remember that social media can never be a replacement for real-world human connection. It requires in-person contact with others to trigger the hormones that alleviate stress and make you feel happier, healthier, and more positive. Ironically for a technology that's designed to bring people closer together, spending too much time engaging with social media can actually make you feel more lonely and isolated-and exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

If you're spending an excessive amount of time on social media and feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness are impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance.

The positive aspects of social media

While virtual interaction on social media doesn't have the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact, there are still many positive ways in which it can help you stay connected and support your wellbeing.

Social media enables you to:

Communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around the world.

Find new friends and communities; network with other people who share similar interests or ambitions.

Join or promote worthwhile causes; raise awareness on important issues.

Seek or offer emotional support during tough times.

Find vital social connection if you live in a remote area, for example, or have limited independence, social anxiety, or are part of a marginalized group.

Find an outlet for your creativity and self-expression.

Discover (with care) sources of valuable information and learning.

The negative aspects of social media

Since it's a relatively new technology, there's little research to establish the long-term consequences, good or bad, of social media use. However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts.

Social media may promote negative experiences such as:

Inadequacy about your life or appearance. Even if you know that images you're viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what's going on in your own life. Similarly, we're all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives, rarely the low points that everyone experiences. But that doesn't lessen those feelings of envy and dissatisfaction when you're scrolling through a friend's airbrushed photos of their tropical beach holiday or reading about their exciting new promotion at work.

Fear of missing out (FOMO). While FOMO has been around far longer than social media, sites such as Facebook and Instagram seem to exacerbate feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives than you are. The idea that you're missing out on certain things can impact your self-esteem, trigger anxiety, and fuel even greater social media use. FOMO can compel you to pick up your phone every few minutes to check for updates, or compulsively respond to each and every alert-even if that means taking risks while you're driving, missing out on sleep at night, or prioritizing social media interaction over real world relationships.

Isolation. A study at the University of Pennsylvania found that high usage of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram increases rather decreases feelings of loneliness. Conversely, the study found that reducing social media usage can actually make you feel less lonely and isolated and improve your overall wellbeing.

Depression and anxiety. Human beings need face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to-eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you're at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Cyberbullying. About 10 percent of teens report being bullied on social media and many other users are subjected to offensive comments. Social media platforms such as Twitter can be hotspots for spreading hurtful rumors, lies, and abuse that can leave lasting emotional scars.

Self-absorption. Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-centeredness and distance you from real-life connections.

What's driving your social media use?

These days, most of us access social media via our smartphones or tablets. While this makes it very convenient to keep in touch, it also means that social media is always accessible. This round-the-clock, hyper connectivity can trigger impulse control problems, the constant alerts and notifications affecting your concentration and focus, disturbing your sleep, and making you a slave to your phone.

Social media platforms are designed to snare your attention, keep you online, and have you repeatedly checking your screen for updates. It's how the companies make money. But, much like a gambling compulsion or an addiction to nicotine, alcohol, or drugs, social media use can create psychological cravings. When you receive a like, a share, or a favorable reaction to a post, it can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, the same "reward" chemical that follows winning on a slot machine, taking a bite of chocolate, or lighting up a cigarette, for example. The more you're rewarded, the more time you want to spend on social media, even if it becomes detrimental to other aspects of your life.

Other causes of unhealthy social media use

A fear of missing out (FOMO) can keep you returning to social media over and over again. Even though there are very few things that can't wait or need an immediate response, FOMO will have you believing otherwise. Perhaps you're worried that you'll be left out of the conversation at school or work if you miss the latest news or gossip on social media? Or maybe you feel that your relationships will suffer if you don't immediately like, share, or respond to other people's posts? Or you could be worried you'll miss out on an invitation or that other people are having a better time than you.

Many of us use social media as a "security blanket". Whenever we're in a social situation and feel anxious, awkward, or lonely, we turn to our phones and log on to social media. Of course, interacting with social media only denies you the face-to-face interaction that can help to ease anxiety.

Your heavy social media use could be masking other underlying problems, such as stress, depression, or boredom. If you spend more time on social media when you're feeling down, lonely, or bored, you may be using it as a way to distract yourself from unpleasant feelings or self-soothe your moods. While it can be difficult at first, allowing yourself to feel can open you up to finding healthier ways to manage your moods.

The vicious cycle of unhealthy social media use

Excessive social media use can create a negative, self-perpetuating cycle:

1. When you feel lonely, depressed, anxious, or stressed, you use social media more often-as a way to relieve boredom or feel connected to others.

2. Using social media more often, though, increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation.

3. In turn, these feelings negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

4. These worsening symptoms cause you to use social media even more, and so the downward spiral continues.

Signs that social media is impacting your mental health

Everyone is different and there is no specific amount of time spent on social media, or the frequency you check for updates, or the number of posts you make that indicates your use is becoming unhealthy. Rather, it has to do with the impact time spent on social media has on your mood and other aspects of your life, along with your motivations for using it.

For example, your social media use may be problematic if it causes you to neglect face-to-face relationships, distracts you from work or school, or leaves you feeling envious, angry, or depressed. Similarly, if you're motivated to use social media just because you're bored or lonely, or want to post something to make others jealous or upset, it may be time to reassess your social media habits.

Indicators that social media may be adversely affecting your mental health include:

Spending more time on social media than with real world friends. Using social media has become a substitute for a lot of your offline social interaction. Even if you're out with friends, you still feel the need to constantly check social media, often driven by feelings that others may be having more fun than you.

Comparing yourself unfavorably with others on social media. You have low self-esteem or negative body image. You may even have patterns of disordered eating.

Experiencing cyberbullying. Or you worry that you have no control over the things people post about you.

Being distracted at school or work. You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends' posts.

Having no time for self-reflection. Every spare moment is filled by engaging with social media, leaving you little or no time for reflecting on who you are, what you think, or why you act the way that you do-the things that allow you to grow as a person.

Engaging in risky behavior in order to gain likes, shares, or positive reactions on social media. You play dangerous pranks, post embarrassing material, cyberbully others, or access your phone while driving or in other unsafe situations.

Suffering from sleep problems. Do you check social media last thing at night, first thing in the morning, or even when you wake up in the night? The light from phones and other devices can disrupt your sleep, which in turn can have a serious impact on your mental health.

Worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression. Rather than helping to alleviate negative feelings and boost your mood, you feel more anxious, depressed, or lonely after using social media.

Modifying social media use to improve mental health step 1: Reduce time online

A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. But you don't need to cut back on your social media use that drastically to improve your mental health. The same study concluded that just being more mindful of your social media use can have beneficial results on your mood and focus.

While 30 minutes a day may not be a realistic target for many of us, we can still benefit from reducing the amount of time we spend on social media. For most of us, that means reducing how much we use our smartphones. The following tips can help:

1. Use an app to track how much time you spend on social media each day. Then set a goal for how much you want to reduce it by.

2. Turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as when you're driving, in a meeting, at the gym, having dinner, spending time with offline friends, or playing with your kids. Don't take your phone with you to the bathroom.

3. Don't bring your phone or tablet to bed. Turn devices off and leave them in another room overnight to charge.

4. Disable social media notifications. It's hard to resist the constant buzzing, beeping, and dinging of your phone alerting you to new messages. Turning off notifications can help you regain control of your time and focus.

5. Limit checks. If you compulsively check your phone every few minutes, wean yourself off by limiting your checks to once every 15 minutes. Then once every 30 minutes, then once an hour. There are apps that can automatically limit when you're able to access your phone.

6. Try removing social media apps from your phone so you can only check Facebook, Twitter and the like from your tablet or computer. If this sounds like too drastic a step, try removing one social media app at a time to see how much you really miss it.

For more tips on reducing your overall phone use, read Smartphone Addiction.

Step 2: Change your focus

Many of us access social media purely out of habit or to mindlessly kill moments of downtime. But by focusing on your motivation for logging on, you can not only reduce the time you spend on social media, you can also improve your experience and avoid many of the negative aspects.

If you're accessing social media to find specific information, check on a friend who's been ill, or share new photos of your kids with family, for example, your experience is likely to be very different than if you're logging on simply because you're bored, you want to see how many likes you got from a previous post, or to check if you're missing out on something.

Next time you go to access social media, pause for a moment and clarify your motivation for doing so.

Are you using social media as a substitute for real life? Is there a healthier substitute for your social media use? If you're lonely, for example, invite a friend out for coffee instead. Feeling depressed? Take a walk or go to the gym. Bored? Take up a new hobby. Social media may be quick and convenient, but there are often healthier, more effective ways to satisfy a craving.

Are you an active or a passive user on social media? Passively scrolling through posts or anonymously following the interaction of others on social media doesn't provide any meaningful sense of connection. It may even increase feelings of isolation. Being an active participant, though, will offer you more engagement with others.

Does social media leave you feeling inadequate or disappointed about your life? You can counter symptoms of FOMO by focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack. Make a list of all the positive aspects of your life and read it back when you feel you're missing out on something better. And remember: no one's life is ever as perfect as it seems on social media. We all deal with heartache, self-doubt, and disappointment, even if we choose not to share it online.

Step 3: Spend more time with offline friends

We all need the face-to-face company of others to be happy and healthy. At its best, social media is a great tool for facilitating real-life connections. But if you've allowed virtual connections to replace real-life friendships in your life, there are plenty of ways to build meaningful connections without relying on social media.

Set aside time each week to interact offline with friends and family. Try to make it a regular get-together where you always keep your phones off.

If you've neglected face-to-face friendships, reach out to an old friend (or an online friend) and arrange to meet up. If you both lead busy lives, offer to run errands or exercise together.

Join a club. Find a hobby, creative endeavor, or fitness activity you enjoy and join a group of like-minded individuals that meet on a regular basis.

Don't let social awkwardness stand in the way. Even if you're shy, there are proven techniques to overcome insecurity and build friendships.

If you don't feel that you have anyone to spend time with, reach out to acquaintances. Lots of other people feel just as uncomfortable about making new friends as you do-so be the one to break the ice. Invite a coworker out for lunch or ask a neighbor or classmate to join you for coffee.

Interact with strangers. Look up from your screen and connect with people you cross paths with on public transport, at the coffee shop, or in the grocery store. Simply smiling or saying hello will improve how you feel-and you never know where it may lead.

Step 4: Express gratitude

Feeling and expressing gratitude about the important things in your life can be a welcome relief to the resentment, animosity, and discontent sometimes generated by social media.

Take time for reflection. Try keeping a gratitude journal or using a gratitude app. Keep track of all the great memories and positives in your life-as well as those things and people you'd miss if they were suddenly absent from your life. If you're more prone to venting or negative posts, you can even express your gratitude on social media-although you may benefit more from private reflection that isn't subject to the scrutiny of others.

Practice mindfulness. Experiencing FOMO and comparing yourself unfavorably to others keeps you dwelling on life's disappointments and frustrations. Instead of being fully engaged in the present, you're focused on the "what ifs" and the "if onlys" that prevent you from having a life that matches those you see on social media. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to live more in the present moment, lessen the impact of FOMO, and improve your overall mental wellbeing.

Volunteer. Just as human beings are hard-wired to seek social connection, we're also hard-wired to give to others. Helping other people or animals not only enriches your community and benefits a cause that's important to you, but it also makes you feel happier and more grateful.

Helping a child or teen with unhealthy social media use

Childhood and the teenage years can be filled with developmental challenges and social pressures. For some kids, social media has a way of exacerbating those problems and fueling anxiety, bullying, depression, and issues with self-esteem. If you're worried about your child's social media use, it can be tempting to simply confiscate their phone or other device. But that can create further problems, separating your child from their friends and the positive aspects of social media. Instead, there are other ways to help your child use Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms in a more responsible way.

Monitor and limit your child's social media use. The more you know about how your child is interacting on social media, the better you'll be able to address any problems. Parental control apps can help limit your child's data usage or restrict their phone use to certain times of the day. You can also adjust privacy settings on the different platforms to limit their potential exposure to bullies or predators.

Talk to your child about underlying issues. Problems with social media use can often mask deeper issues. Is your child having problems fitting in at school? Are they suffering from shyness or social anxiety? Are problems at home causing them stress?

Enforce "social media" breaks. For example, you could ban social media until your child has completed their homework in the evening, not allow phones at the dinner table or in their bedroom, and plan family activities that preclude the use of phones or other devices. To prevent sleep problems, always insist phones are turned off at least one hour before bed.

Teach your child how social media is not an accurate reflection of people's lives. They shouldn't compare themselves or their lives negatively to others on social media. People only post what they want others to see. Images are manipulated or carefully posed and selected. And having fewer friends on social media doesn't make your child less popular or less worthy.

Encourage exercise and offline interests. Get your child away from social media by encouraging them to pursue physical activities and hobbies that involve real-world interaction. Exercise is great for relieving anxiety and stress, boosting self-esteem, and improving mood-and is something you can do as a family. The more engaged your child is offline, the less their mood and sense of self-worth will be dependent on how many friends, likes, or shares they have on social media.

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Social Media and Mental Health - HelpGuide.org

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teen issues Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life.

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C: This article was made September 25th, 2020.

R: This information is relevant to my topic. The intended audience is parents. The information is at an appropriate level. I would be comfortable citing this source.

A: The writer of this article is "healthychildren.org" The author is qualified to write on this topic. There is contact information at the bottom of the screen. The URL doesn't reveal anything.

A: This information comes from "healthychildren.org" All of the information is supported by evidence. The information has been reviewed multiple times. I can verify the information from personal knowledge. The language and tone seems unbiased and free of emotion.

P: The purpose of the article is to warn parents about the dangers of social media and the challenges. The author makes their intentions clear, the information is fact.

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Social media challenges can be fascinating to teens, who can be both impulsive and drawn to behavior that gets attention.

Some social media challenges, like the ALS ice bucket challenge or the mannequin challenge, can be fun and positive activities. But other challenges that pop up on the internet are dangerous and can lead to lasting harm.

You may have heard of viral social media trends like the Tide pod challenge, the choking game or "blackout" challenge, the Benadryl challenge or the one-chip challenge. Or, another that involved cooking chicken in NyQuil (the Sleepy Chicken challenge), which prompted the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to warn against the dangers of medicine misuse.

These trendy social media challenges can cause serious injuries and poisonings, and some can even be fatal. Being aware of these challenges and understanding why they lure teens is important for all parents.

Why are teens drawn in by social media challenges?

Teens' brains are still developing. The part of the brain that handles rational thought, the prefontal cortex, is not fully developed until the mid-20s. This means teens are naturally more impulsive and likely to act before thinking through all of the ramifications.

The role of social media - rewarding outrageous behavior

Social media rewards outrageous behavior, and the more outrageous, the bigger the bragging rights. It's a quick moving, impulsive environment, and the fear of losing out is real for teens. That environment plays into a teen's underdeveloped ability to think through their actions and possible consequences.

Kids won't necessarily stop to consider that laundry detergent is a poison that can burn their throats and damage their airways. Or that misusing medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and similar medicines can cause serious heart problems, seizures and coma. What they will focus on is that a popular kid in class did this and got hundreds of likes and comments.

The role of parents - building a better brain

As a parent, you can help your teen build intellectual muscle. Here's how:

To start a conversation, ask your kids about the biggest challenges they've heard about in their circle of friends. Encourage them to see if they can surprise you. Ask them (calmly and without judgment) what they think about the challenge. This helps build the skill of judging risk by talking about what could happen to someone who takes the challenge. You can still exercise your parental options such as limiting contact with certain kids or making specific activities off limits.

If your child seems interested in participating in a challenge, use open-ended questions to encourage them to think through each step of the challenge. Ask them to consider the worst outcome. Ask them to think about why they would do it, and if it's worth it. Are likes and comments worth hours in the emergency department?

Be sure to "friend" your kids on social media. Staying in touch on their preferred communication platforms can help you keep in touch with what goes on in their day-to-day lives. Watch their stories for clues about what is going on in school and with their friends. Let your children know that if you pay for the device and the wireless network, they have to friend you in exchange. It's also a good idea to create a Family Media Plan.

Sometimes kids are more willing to talk about their peers than themselves. Asking questions about school trends, friends and fads may yield more answers than direct questions about their own activities. No matter what, it is important to keep the lines of communication open and avoid passing judgment. Instead, calmly discuss the dangers in those choices.

The egg crack challenge & other prank-and-post trends

As a parent, another way you can help your child recognize risky social media challenges is to be a positive digital role model. Avoid social media trends that involve "pranking" kids and posting their reaction online, like the egg crack challenge. While cracking an egg on an unsuspecting child's head may not cause physical injury, it can hurt-physically and emotionally. Hurting a child for laughs can erode the sense of safety and trust they have with you. Using a platform that can be viewed worldwide for years to come can further damage trust and compound a sense of humiliation.

While children and teens continue to grow, learn more about life, friends and their place in the world, remember that their brains are still rapidly developing. As a parent, you can help nurture that growth and help your teens develop thoughtful, rational thinking-skills that will continue to be important for years to come.

More information

Council on Communications and Media (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics)

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social media challenge; internet challenge; viral video; trending challenges; tiktok; benadryl challenge; one chip challenge; egg crack challenge; sharenting; online prank; poisoning; tide pod challenge; mannequin challenge

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Dangerous Social Media Challenges: Understanding Their Appeal to Kids

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Social media challenges can be fascinating to teens, who can be both impulsive and drawn to behavior that draws attention. Being aware of these challenges and understanding why they lure kids is important for all parents.