BEHIND THEIR SCREENS

A disturbing look at the turbulent world of social media and its impact on adolescents.

Weinstein and James, researchers at Project Zero at Harvard, structure their book around surveys and interviews that get at the heart of a simple yet fraught question: “What worries you most about today’s digital world?” The responses varied so much that the authors often found it difficult to reach any definitive answers, but the process revealed numerous surprises. A predictable but significant finding was that many teens are concerned that they spend too much time on social media, distracting them from the real world. Many are not getting enough sleep because they are constantly worried that they might miss something. However, they also believe that disconnecting is not an option. “For many teens, technologies are a non-negotiable for friendship preservation,” write the authors. “There’s no way to opt out without major social repercussions. They wish adults would acknowledge this reality.” There is also a sense of constantly being under scrutiny. One wrong text, post, or action can result in ostracism or worse. For example, one boy who rejected the romantic advances of a girl found himself accused of being a rapist on social media. Some teens refuse to reveal their political views because of the possible consequences, and the result is an echo chamber of enforced consensus. In fact, one of the most vicious debates that Weinstein and James encountered was whether it was acceptable to even consider the views of people who disagree with you. It all sounds like a labyrinth of constant pressure, image comparison, and virtue signaling. In the concluding chapter, the authors offer advice for parents, emphasizing the need to avoid simplistic solutions, to understand the complexity of the social media environment, and to listen with empathy.

For anyone who wants to know where the social media road is leading, this is an important, worrisome book.