Most research on adolescent social media use focuses on teens ages 13 and up, the minimum age required to create an account. But new research from Northwestern University is shedding light on a younger, largely overlooked group: children ages 8 to 12.
Courtney Blackwell, a pediatric mental health and well-being expert at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has led one of the first nationwide studies examining how younger children use social media and how those experiences may relate to mental health and development.
"Technically, kids this age aren't supposed to be online, but we know many of them are," said Blackwell. "Early childhood and early adolescence are incredibly sensitive periods for brain development, yet we know very little about how social media fits into that picture."
Blackwell will virtually present findings from her study - based on survey data from more than 3,000 children and adolescents across the U.S. - during a Feb. 11 talk about the current landscape of social media and youth mental health. The presentation is hosted by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, supported by the National Institutes of Health.
What: "The kids are(n't) alright: The role of social media in youth mental health"
When: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1-2 p.m. ET
Where: Virtual, open to the public and media
Who: Courtney Blackwell, associate professor of medical social sciences, Northwestern
