Teenage mental health is at its worst. The Covid-19 health crisis has accentuated this phenomenon. In November 2020, according to the EpiCov survey12.1% of the population aged 15 or over said they had hired “medications related to anxiety, sleep or depression problems”. Also according to the EpiCov survey, in this case they were 10% in May of the same year. The phenomenon does not seem to have calmed down in recent months. Last topic of concern for doctors, ‘doomscrolling’ which undermines the mental health of adolescents and which worries doctors.
A real negative spiral
“With the Internet and social networks, we have the illusion that we have access to all information. So, of course, we have access to all information, but except to access it, you have to search for it.”explains Olivier Duris, a clinical psychologist specializing in digital uses. “The problem is that GAFAM makes sure we stay on these media for as long as possible. And so to do that, there are algorithms that will think about what you are used to watching and show you content that matches what you are used to. look, appreciate, comment “.
This spiral can quickly become problematic. “If you are already used to consuming content, posts that will have an anxiolytic effect, which will have a distressing effect or otherwise, in fact, we will only show you this type of content. So you will be locked in this loop without you noticing”says Olivier Duris.
Doomscolling amplifies anxiety or depression
According to a published study in the American magazine Health Communicationjust under one in five teenagers (16.5%) reported levels of social media consumption “seriously problematic”. Of these, 74% also reported having mental health problems.
However, “doomscrolling” is not responsible for a state of anxiety or depression, but will act as a sounding board. “It is not the practice of this ‘sliding of destiny’ that will create anxiety, anguish or anything else“, Psychologist Olivier Duris blurs. «But on the other hand, in people who already have strong anxieties within them, anxieties related to particular subjects, there is the risk of locking themselves up in this type of practice and that anxieties are strengthened and therefore multiplied tenfold. So it is non-generative, it is not a causal link, but it can become a cause of aggravation “.
So how can this phenomenon be better framed to limit its effects? Doctors recommend regulating access to smartphones for adolescents, but above all not to ban them. Parents also need to talk to them more about this sometimes toxic relationship with screens. “Parents are not very often aware of what young people are doing on their cell phones”assures the psychologist Olivier Duris. “It is important to be able to discuss it because, in fact, the goal is not to create an abyss between generations, but to ensure that a dialogue is put in place. And afterwards? Generally, when we see this type of practice, you have to tell yourself that the problem does not come from the social network itself, but perhaps there is an underlying problem “. If that’s the case, don’t wait and consult.
