| Description |
Over the past ten years, there has been a significant rise of depression and suicide rates in adolescents. These rates coincide almost exactly with the rise in smartphone use and the development of social media. Evidence of multiple studies over the last twenty years suggests that social media plays a significant role in influencing these high depressive and subsequent suicide rates. Social networking sites are constantly evolving and progressively infiltrating the lives of youth, and yet school curriculums have not evolved to keep up with the changing conditions that adolescents encounter on a daily basis. Studies show that most teens use social media networks on a daily or even hourly basis. However, there are limited resources available to teach youth any form of coping, safety, or appropriate online behavior. This curriculum was created because of the lack of resources available to youth and is based on the information and research included in this review. The review outlines the need for education in the following areas mental health and depression, concentration and sleep deprivation, cyberbullying, pornography, predators, online privacy, and suicide. |
