Applied Evidence

Anticipating the care adolescents will need

J Fam Pract. 2021 March;70(2):E1-E11 | 10.12788/jfp.0162

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Due to growing concerns about the risks of social media in children and adolescents, the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed the Family Media Plan (www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx). Some specific questions that providers may ask are outlined in TABLE 3.⁶⁴ The Family Media Plan can provide age-specific guidelines to assist parents or caregivers in answering these questions.

Cyber-bullying. One in 3 adolescents (primarily female) has been a victim of cyber-bullying.⁶⁵ Sadly, 1 in 5 teens has received some form of electronic sexual solicitation.⁶⁶ The likelihood of unsolicited stranger contact correlates with teens’ online habits and the amount of information disclosed. Predictors include female sex, visiting chat rooms, posting photos, and disclosing personal information. Restricting computer use to an area with parental supervision or installing monitoring programs does not seem to exert any protective influence on cyber-bullying or unsolicited stranger contact.⁶⁵ While 63% of cyber-bullying victims feel upset, embarrassed, or stressed by these contacts,⁶⁶ few events are actually reported. To address this, some states have adopted laws adding cyber-bullying to school disciplinary codes.

Adolescents rarely disclose bullying to parents or other adults, fearing restriction of Internet access, and many of them think that adults may downplay the seriousness of the events.

Negative health impacts associated with cyber-bullying include anxiety, sadness, and greater difficulty in concentrating on school work.⁶⁵ Victims of bullying are more likely to have school disciplinary actions and depression and to be truant or to carry weapons to school.⁶⁶ Cyber-bullying is uniquely destructive due to its ubiquitous presence. A sense of relative anonymity online may encourage perpetrators to act more cruelly, with less concern for punishment.

Young people are also more likely to share passwords as a sign of friendship. This may result in others assuming their identity online. Adolescents rarely disclose bullying to parents or other adults, fearing restriction of Internet access, and many of them think that adults may downplay the seriousness of the events.⁶⁶

CORRESPONDENCE
Mark B. Stephens, MD, Penn State Health Medical Group, 1850 East Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803; mstephens3@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.