Cellphones Only Trigger, Not Cause Gen Z's Mental Disorders

It could be that Gen Z actually already has mental problems. Cell phone use and social media access only fuel it.

AP PHOTO/PAU VENTEO

A visitor is testing a Huawei mobile phone product, the Huawei Mate X5, at the Mobile Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain on February 26, 2024.

Children having tantrums after their parents take their cell phone or device are often seen in public places. The children screamed, cried loudly, and even hit or kicked everything around them. In fact, in a case in Cirebon, West Java, a child experienced depression when his cellphone was taken away.

British media, The Independent, Monday (13/5/2024), wrote that more and more children and teenagers are suffering from anxiety and decreased mood. The media quoted consultant psychologist for Cygnet Health Care, Seb Thompson.

Also read: Children in Cirebon are depressed after their cellphones are sold for daily food

Anxiety arises from concerns over certain issues, such as school. Once it takes hold, individuals may experience panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulty connecting with others, and depression.

In India, a student became depressed and was admitted to the hospital. Ankush Patil (20) felt pressurized after his phone was confiscated when he was caught cheating during an exam.

AP/MARK LENNIHAN

A toddler plays with a cellphone on the subway in New York, United States, in December 2017.

There are many other cases in various places. The risks and negative impacts of the use of cell phones or gadgets such as these have become a "weapon" of resistance for residents against the communication technology industry.

Dozens of US states, including New York and California, for example, are suing Meta Platforms Inc., the owner of Facebook and Instagram, for allegedly harming young people.

Also read: Reflection of Our Mentality on Social Media

Meta is also considered to be contributing to the adolescent mental health crisis. Meta was accused of deliberately designing features that could make children addicted.

Mental crisis

The concern regarding the crisis of mental health in children and adolescents is increasing. Over the last 10 years, more and more young adults and teenagers in the United States are experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

One of the content production processes for live Tiktok carried out by the Kompas Daily Social Medical Team in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/4/2023).

A psychology professor at San Diego State University, Jean Twenge, discovered a significant increase in teenagers and young adults experiencing severe depression and hopelessness. In fact, in her research, she found that young people were considering self-harm and even suicide.

The teenage years in the US have undergone a drastic change. Three decades ago, the most severe public health threat to US teenagers came from drinking parties and drunk driving.

Threats also come from teenage pregnancies and smoking habits. Now, cases are decreasing. The replacement is an increase in mental health disorders.

Also read: Gen Z is worried about climate change and the resulting disasters

In a report on May 3, 2022, The New York Times wrote, the mental health crisis is often linked to excessive cellphone use and the rise of social media. Using cellphones for too long causes teenagers to lack sleep and exercise. They also don't meet much in person with their friends.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

The style of visitors when taking photos with the backdrop of ancient buildings and the atmosphere of the Old City, Semarang City, Central Java, Friday (10/5/2024).

However, direct interaction is important for healthy physical and psychological development. Many teenagers are becoming more withdrawn from their social environment. In the long run, this can lead to anxiety, depression, compulsive behavior, self-harm, and even suicide. An example of this is the case of Fat Cat, a Chinese teenager who committed suicide.

Usage restrictions

Concerned about the future of young French children, President Emmanuel Macron has formed a special team to create rules limiting the use of smartphones and social media for children and teenagers. Children under the age of 11 are prohibited from owning a cellphone.

Also read: Abundant unemployment, Gen Z is tired and irritated at luxury exhibitions on social media

Meanwhile, the use of smartphones with internet access is prohibited for anyone under the age of 13. Social media applications are also banned for anyone under the age of 15. They are only allowed to access limited platforms that are considered "educational". Members of parliament will determine those social media platforms.

Meanwhile, the children and adolescents mental health institution in England, Place2Be, stated that one in five children experience mental health problems. In 2021-2022, nearly one million children and adolescents accessed mental health support services.

Children who are addicted to phones, gadgets, and video games are more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders later in life. Canadian scientists explain that using smartphones and social media during adolescence can trigger paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and "strange ideas" when a person reaches 23 years old.

A team of Canadian researchers writing in the journal JAMA Psychiatry said that actually information and communication technology was not the main cause. It could be that the child is already vulnerable to mental illness.

"The increase in media usage and mental health issues appear to have the same risk factors, such as parental mental health problems, loneliness, bullying, and parent-child relationship problems," said the researchers in the journal.

The study observed media habits and psychotic experiences of 2,120 Canadian citizens born in 1997 and 1998. The study found that those who drastically reduce their computer usage are still more likely to experience psychotic experiences in adulthood.

This study also stated that internet usage is more closely associated with depression compared to playing video games or watching television. Meanwhile, playing games may be more supportive of emotional regulation and social skill development compared to "passive" forms of technology, such as television.

Also read: Fat Cat, the Face of the Suicide Phenomenon Gripping Gen Z

Simona Skripkauskaite from the University of Oxford stated that high use of digital technology during adolescence can be an early indicator of mental health issues. However, it is not the cause.

He added that experts no longer see digital technology as the root cause of all problems. It is possible that one's mental health condition is already "not good". The use of mobile phones only exacerbates it.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Children of fire survivors in the South Sukabumi area played together during a psychosocial support session by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) DKI Jakarta at the evacuation post in the courtyard of the Central Statistics Agency Building in West Jakarta, Kebon Jeruk, on Tuesday (1/11/2022).

At the beginning of this year, the Millennium Cohort Study, which observed 18,000 families, found that almost half of British teenagers feel addicted to social media. The latest research conducted by King's College London concludes that one in three people clinically meet the criteria for smartphone addiction.

Addiction may cause individuals to lose control over how long they use their phones. This can lead to feelings of stress when they are unable to access their devices and neglecting all the meaningful things in their lives.

Sign of depression

Then, how do we know if a child or teenager is experiencing depression? According to Rachel Melville-Thomas, a child and adolescent psychotherapist, as well as spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), signs may occur when a child or teenager is unable to break free from prolonged feelings of sadness.

Or, when their mood is bad and they lose interest in any activity, including those they used to enjoy. They are also usually easily offended and constantly feel tired. "Depressed teenagers feel their emotions are dead or hollow. Depression is usually accompanied by excessive anxiety, which causes changes in eating or sleeping patterns," he said.

Children and adolescents who experience depression tend to not want to leave the house and may withdraw from their family. They also may not want to talk about their problems. The alarm for parents or anyone else should immediately go off if a child or adolescent confesses to feeling sad but cannot explain the cause.

Also read: Children become victims of violence, parents' mental health needs attention

Melville-Thomas explained that it's very difficult for young people to describe feelings that appear to be irrational. Usually, they will only get sick. They can get a headache, menstrual pain, or stomach problems.

"Most people want to find a logical solution quickly. As a result, they ignore the symptoms of depression and consider it only a matter of 'hormones' or 'fluctuating teenage moods'. Children and teenagers in such situations should pay attention to their diet and sleep. If possible, they should also be slowly encouraged to talk about what is on their mind," said Melville-Thomas.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Residents play football in the Gelora Bung Karno area, Jakarta, Friday (16/2/2024). According to research published in The British Medical Journal, exercise, such as walking, jogging, yoga and physical strength training, can help relieve depression.

If parents suspect that their child is experiencing depression, the first step they should take is to visit a general practitioner. Psychotherapy for children can be given by talking or participating in games. After that, cognitive behavioral therapy can be done to challenge thought patterns, with additional medication if necessary. (REUTERS/AFP/AP)