Adolescence

There has been a lot of focus recently on the Netflix series Adolescence and all that this brings up about young people, developing brains and social media, particularly cyberbullying.  In one scene, Jamie’s parents reflect on what caused him to act out with murderous violence; during the conversation, they discuss their realisation that Jamie had been spending a lot of time in his room and that they did not know what he was doing, who he was online with etc.

Whilst this programme focusses on what happens in the most extreme situation, the way in which Jamie spends so much time alone in his room is not unusual at all.  Many young people now use social media and online gaming as their main source of socialising and they may spend hours a day doing such.  

The Barbados submitted a report to the UK Parliament suggesting that:-

• 79% of 12 to 15-year-olds and 32% of 8 to 11-year-olds own a mobile phone. Young people are also extensive users of social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Approximately 86% of 9 to 16 year olds belong to a social networking site.

• Children aged 5 to 15 are now spending an average of 5 hours and 24 minutes per day engaged in social media activity, despite being at school.

• The number of young teenagers who play outside, read books or get enough sleep has dropped sharply in comparison to teenagers from previous decades.

• The study found barely half (54%) of those aged 13-15 read books. By contrast, 79% of adults aged over 18 said they did so when they were young teenagers.

These themes are all apparent in adult life too; many of us spend time online, perhaps with some regret for how quickly this time seems to vanish and how unfulfilled we may be left feeling.

As part of creating a balance it’s important to remember how significant face-to-face interactions are; from things like chatting whist getting the dinner ready, eating together and spending time outside together - these interactions help our brains and bodies develop; particularly the frontal cortex; the area of the brain essential for learning, reasoning, empathy and relationships.

Life in 2025 is incredibly complex. As human beings, we are often driven to be very absorbed with doing rather than with being.  It can be helpful to address this in therapy and think about creating more balance in your life or that of your child/children.

To discuss any of these themes and how they impact on you or your family please feel free to contact me. I am a psychotherapist; counsellor; arts and play therapist, covering Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. You can contact me here.