PSSD behaviour consultants advise moderation on screen time

Prairie South School Division advocacy and behaviour consultants Kirsten Lawson Knoop and Candace Spanjer spoke with MooseJawToday.com about the effects of technology and social media on child development.

The near-constant connection of social media and texting is a new phenomenon. Social interactions used to be location-related. We would go to a certain place (gym, work, school, etc.), interact there, then come home and take a break.

Now, there is no separation. The effects on coming generations are not fully understood.

“I think the most important part in the discussion on technology and social media use is that it should be used in moderation,” said Kirsten Lawson Knoop, BSW, RSW.

Candace Spanjer, BSW, RSW, said that there are positives to social media. Connecting more easily with friends and family members, particularly during the COVID pandemic, helps reduce feelings of isolation. Spanjer said that kids now have easier access to support services as well, such as KidsHelpPhone.ca, Canada Suicide Prevention Service (call 1-833-456-4566, or text 45645), anxietycanada.com, or TeenMentalHealth.org.

Lawson Knoop and Spanjer are advocacy and behaviour consultants with Prairie South School Division. They primarily work with students whose behaviour, for any reason, is affecting their ability to be successful in the classroom. They work with students one-on-one or in small groups, and consult with families.

They are also advocates and educators. They do suicide prevention presentations, suicide screens, classroom presentations, parent presentations, professional development learning for staff, and crisis response.

Lawson Knoop said that some of the dangers she sees developing from overuse of technology and social media include:

• A limited ability to handle distress
• A lack of patience because kids become used to instant gratification
• Limited social skills from less face-to-face interaction
• The inability for children to read and understand other's emotions, which then affects their relationships with peers and adults
• Technology can be addictive, leading to a lack of enjoyment of other activities
• Increased feelings of anxiety and depression
• Sleep deprivation – if limits are not set by parents, youth will rarely place limits for themselves, leading many youth to stay up very late on technology

Lawson Knoop noted that it is “almost inevitable that people compare themselves to others on social media, however, these are just small snapshots of people’s lives and are heavily filtered (people don’t generally post about the hard times).” She said that children and youth (and many adults) don’t always think critically about what they are seeing, causing decreased self-esteem.

Spanjer agreed with the negatives that Lawson Knoop observed. She emphasized that social media can create a sense of “perfect.” This is an illusion – that can, nevertheless, be convincing – that can result in unattainable standards that impact self-esteem. She also said that she sees youth dealing with pressure to be constantly available, with cyber-bullying, and with having no time to unplug and wind down.

Spanjer suggested the following ideas for both parents and children to limit their screen time:

• No screens at mealtimes
• No screens for one hour before bed
• No screens in the bedroom. Phones are often used as alarm clocks: if it’s financially possible, buy an alarm clock for each bedroom instead.
• Limit weekend screen time use.
• Create a list of alternate activities. Require that more than one activity is completed to access screen time.
• Spend “no screens” quality time together.
• Parents should follow their own rules. It is crucial to model the behaviour they want to see.

The province of Saskatchewan recently launched a campaign called “Take a Break” encouraging children and teens to have time away from social media and screens. The campaign highlights research showing that excessive screen time is a rising trend that negatively impacts mental and physical well-being.

The province’s website can be accessed at Saskatchewan.ca/TakeaBreak.