Biblical Prescriptions to Combat Adverse Mental-Health Effects from Social Media
One thing has defined Generation Z and Generation Alpha like no other, and this is social media. 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and most of them are on social media. APA reports that 41% of teens with the highest social media use report having poor or very poor mental health, and 10% of them have suicidal intent or self harm within the past 12 months. The decline in mental health is indicated by a sharp rise in rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm beginning in the early 2010s. There is clearly a connection. How should youth ministers react?
Internet companies like Youtube, Google, etc are the richest companies in the history of humanity because they are taking advantage of human psychology. As followers of Jesus, we cannot stand for yjod. They are to be protected and shown a better way. A way that involves Jesus accepting them as they are and giving them purpose. First, we will outline the problem with social media, including how it is programmed and an argument for the depressive symptoms and anxiety it causes. Second, we will look at the identity Jesus offers us, and the joy God has instore for us.
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
David Reed
L203
10 – 10:30 AM