A study published Tuesday in JAMA suggests that such frequent use of digital media by adolescents might increase their odds of developing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

"It's one of the first studies to look at modern digital media and ADHD risk," says psychologist Adam Leventhal, an associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California and an author of the study.

When considered with previous research showing that greater social media use is associated with depression in teens, the new study suggests that "excessive digital media use doesn't seem to be great for [their] mental health," he adds.

You don't need a study to confirm that social media is screwing up children's brains. The silicon valley CEOs are openly admitting they create platforms that are addictive and get you to come back again and again. They trigger the brain's dopamine response every time you get a like or comment on one of your posts. You get trained to check your phone when you hear the little ding because you want the dopamine response. unfortunately some people can get addicted to that.

Kids are probably more susceptible to these dopamine responses because they still have developing brains and just lack the experience of dealing with emotions. Gambling causes these same dopamine responses in the brain and we understand that gambling can be addictive and get people into trouble especially young people that are inexperienced with controlling their emotions. That is why you have to be 18 years or older to gamble in the USA.

So should you have to be 18 years or older to have a social media account? Maybe, but I think the first thing we need to do is recognize the dangers social media poses to kids and it's not just social media, it's video games, texting, sharing phones, etc. All types of screen time that can screw with kid's brains. Once the general public recognizes these dangers than parents can make informed decisions on letting their kids use these devices and platforms.

Sean Parker Says Facebook Was Designed to Be Addictive

Sean Parker, the billionaire early Facebook investor and Napster founder, says Mark Zuckerberg knowingly created a monster with addictive social media.

Parker, speaking at an Axios event, pulled back the curtain on Facebook's early days, saying it was designed to consume people.

And all this time everyone thought it was designed for people to consume.

Nope, all the sharing and liking were used like a drug to get people hooked on checking Facebook non-stop. "How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible," said Parker, referring to Facebook's earliest mission.

http://adage.com/article/digital/sean-parker-worries-facebook-rotting-children-s-brains/311238/

Source https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/17/629517464/more-screen-time-for-teens-may-fuel-adhd-symptoms