Teen Isolation and Insulation

Media Alert!

June 2024

Blog #55

Sue Summers

MediaSavvyKids.org

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV)

Teen Isolation and Insulation

Does your teen head directly to his or her room after school? Are their earbuds permanently attached when traveling in the car? When company visits, does your teen disappear?

These types of “retreat from real life” bring isolation and insulation into our teens’ lives. Technology – and especially cell phones – is responsible for this separation. According to a Pew Research Center poll, around 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, which means most have access to the Internet.

Consider these findings:

“…Teens isolate themselves and use technology for connection and distraction. Therefore, they are also at risk of social media addiction.

Teenage isolation, not surprisingly, makes teens lonelier. In fact, loneliness is common in teens. Studies show that the prevalence of loneliness peaks in adolescents and young adults.

Teenage isolation and loneliness also result in a wide range of unhealthy physical and psychological symptoms.” (www.newportacademy.com/resources/empowering-teens/teenage-isolation)

“Forty-one percent of teens with the highest social media use rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor.” (www.apa.org/monitor/2024/04/teen-social-use-mental-health)

Research indicates that chronic loneliness has the following effects:

• Increased stress response
• Less restful and less restorative sleep
• Negative impact on physical health
• Greater risk of suicide
• More alcohol and drug use
• Depression and anxiety
• Poor self-care, such as bathing, grooming, and nutrition
• Decrease in positive outlook.

“Research shows a strong link between social isolation and an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Social isolation can cause symptoms of depression – one of the most common mental health disorders in the country – feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, and dark or suicidal thoughts. It can also increase the risk of suicidal ideation.” (“Isolation’s Silent Role in the Teen Mental Health Crisis”, psychologytoday.com)

“The average number of hours a day that U.S. teens spend using seven popular social media apps is 4.8 hours, with YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram accounting for 87% of their social media time.” (www.apa.org/monitor/2024/04/teen-social-use-mental-health)

Beyond the loneliness of isolation, insulation means teens are saturated with their own thoughts and uninformed by information outside of themselves. By removing themselves from conversations at home, in the car, at school with friends, and with family members and visitors, teens are trapped in their own thinking, without expanded ideas to consider.

“The insular nature of relationship development in the current smartphone era runs counter to the proclamations of enthusiasts extolling their anticipation that our screens (first the television and now our phones, laptops, and tablets) will usher in an era of global interconnectedness and understanding.” (“A Critical Danger to Our Way of Life: Insularity”, http://www.psychologytoday.com)

Rather than expansive outreach, the tendency is to remain siloed within our identified groups.  Hmmm… that’s worth some thought!  How do we grow without an exchange of ideas and experiences?

In addition to their online lives, teens need to learn from others and to feel connected to others, to those who exist in real life in real time – family, friends, neighbors, teachers, youth pastors, and peers.

So how can we help teens become media-savvy about the culture that surrounds them?

If the family has become disjointed, it’s time to have a family meeting. Discussion can reveal some hurts or perceptions that teens might be struggling with. Here are some suggestions to bring connection back into your interactions.

• Make dinner time a requisite family gathering. If schedules won’t allow this to happen every night, set two evenings each week for “family dinner” that works into everyone’s plans – no exceptions. This is a time to interact and have meaningful conversations that involve all family members.

• Consider having the teen(s) make dinner for the family one night each week. Knowing others depend on them may make them feel more valuable.

• Set up specific rules and discuss them. Ask for their suggestions regarding what might be helpful to reunite your family. These might include when earbuds are appropriate, no cell phones at the table, a set TV or movie night together, definite curfews for school nights and weekends, and other necessary guidelines. Be sure to include consequences for breaking them.

• Discuss social media platforms: which ones do the teens follow or post on, what have they learned from them, and which ones should they avoid.

• Share and discuss this scripture:

“Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” 1 John 2:15-17, The Message

• Discuss the purpose and importance of family. Emphasize that God created the family unit, and that it is a place for a “soft landing” when difficulties arise.

• Talk about the concepts of isolation and insulation. Ask why these might result in unnatural and unhealthy behaviors.

• Invite family or friends to your home on a regular basis for good conversation and to broaden opportunities for interactions. Be sure the teens are involved.

Note: Share this blog with your church’s youth pastor as a lesson for youth group gatherings.
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Sue Summers is a Christian media analyst, teacher, author, and speaker.

She is the Director of Media Alert!

Be watching for Sue’s new book, Let’s Raise Media-Savvy Kids!, coming out this fall.

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Blogs: MediaSavvyKids.org

Website: http://www.MediaAlert.org

Email: Sue@MediaAlert.org

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