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I would like to share some thoughts about virtual/digital communications in the lives of adolescents and young adults. The topic is close to all of us, both as clinicians and in our private lives (as parents or as members/citizens of society).
Digital communication has become nearly universal among adolescents and young people using smartphones, tablets, or computers daily. Teenagers spend several hours a day on their devices, engaging in various forms of online communication (social media platforms and messaging apps). Social media can mimic longed for self-object experience. In addition, many young people participate in online gaming communities. They interact with peers from all over the world through voice or text chat.
Let me present some statistics from January 2024 (Kemp, 2024):
69.4% of the world’s population now uses a mobile device, with the global total up by 138 million.
More than 66% of people on Earth now use internet.
There are now more than 5 billion active social media user identities. The world averaged 8.4 new social media users per second over the past year.
The world spends a huge amount of time using social media; the “typical” social media user now spends 2 hours and 23 minutes per day on social media.
Humanity will spend a combined total of 500 million years using social media in 2024.
The constant connectivity offers some benefits, which was evident during the pandemic. Internet permits us to connect with a diverse range of people and is an occasion to build and maintain friendships beyond physical constraints. Online communities, especially those based on shared interests or identities, often offer supportive environments where teens can freely express themselves without fear of judgment.
Despite the few benefits, digital and virtual communication present many more risks and challenges for adolescents. One of the most pressing concerns is the potential for addiction. Adolescents, whose brains are still developing and are particularly sensitive to r