Dr. Nancy’s interview with KNSET radio in Los Angeles on all things related to media
THERE IS A NEW CHALLENGE WITH ALL MEDIA
There is a new challenge for us and our families as a result of the Internet, the expansion of television, YouTube, apps, and social media. Of course, this is both good and bad. It offers more opportunities for connection and education but also some potentially negative outcomes.
All of these forms of media expand and change continually, and it is not possible to determine the effects of any of these expansions without research. While it’s not possible to research the effects of every new TV channel or app, the global practice of conscious viewing will be a great navigating tool.
1. What is the intention or message of the media? For example, in Normal Lear’s work, All in the Family, Maude, and The Jeffersons, the message was progressive and matched movements in the culture in terms of race, gender, and family structure. Decide if you want to accept the message or not and whether it is good for you.
2. Am I buying into the message or just window shopping? It is easy to continue to view and take in ideas due to inertia, the habit of continuing to watch what you are watching. It applies to Internet surfing, binge-watching, and social media. When you are viewing from inertia, you are much more likely to take in the message. When you are viewing from a distance, you can consciously decide whether to take in the message.
3. How do I view consciously, from a mindful distance? Ask yourself how you are feeling in your heart, your gut, and your mind as you view. Ask if what you are viewing is having a positive or a negative effect on you. For example, when you notice that you are enmeshed in a scary movie, news story, or drama, step back and view from a distance. You can thoroughly enjoy a show or movie without becoming overly emotionally involved in a non-productive way. Once you are overly involved you are likely to associate with the characters and become too interested in their outcomes. You are then at risk for emotional responses to fictional worlds. You can even develop parasocial relationships in which you feel like the characters are family or friends because you have been inviting them into your home on a regular basis. You can feel bad when something unfortunate happens to your favorite character or even worse when your favorite show goes off of the air.
4. Ask if what I am viewing is having a positive or negative effect on me. If you are overly involved or can’t stop using an app or viewing a show, and the rest of your life and work are suffering, you may be experiencing symptoms of media addiction, which is not a clinically approved diagnosis, but the symptoms are the same. Eye strain, lethargy, and weight gain occur when too much of life is spent on media. The only identified media addictions are gaming addiction and Internet gambling addiction. Remain involved only to the level that you are still in charge of you feel and what media you choose. Such choices may lead to the selection of more positive programming. A six-week study showed that repeated “exposure to online videos that display acts of human kindness increased viewers’ positive emotions, which in turn fostered their willingness to act in a way that benefits others.” Such choices can foster a positive mood, social change, and a positive future.
In response to the new challenge, I wrote Get Reel: Produce Your Own Life, a book that explains the benefits and pitfalls of media use and offers guidelines for conscious viewing.
CONSCIOUS VIEWING GUIDELINES
- Get curious and observe the effects of what you are watching on you
- Decide what messages and feelings are good for you
- Notice effects in the body, mind, and heart
- Detect negative thought patterns that are the result of media and stop feeding them
- View mindfully without the intense involvement of viewing inertia
Special items for consideration with social media
· Children are susceptible to PSMU, Problematic Social Media Use, a term from a World Health Organization that studied children in 43 countries, Adolescents in particular who are economically disadvantaged are more likely to use social media in a more dependent way affecting their well-being. They estimate that over 210 million people worldwide are addicted to social media, and indicate that greater life satisfaction is associated with less addiction to the Internet. They recommend early intervention in schools in addition to parental involvement. Low levels of family and peer support were associated with ”Internet addiction.” Also, the term is not an official diagnosis, it describes the characteristics of PMSU
· Your state when you enter social media will either be enhanced or negatively impacted. For example, if you have low self-esteem and don’t get the response you want on social media, you are more likely to be negatively impacted. If you are depressed and go to social media to feel better there is a risk that you may feel worse.
· The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) which drives teens to continually search their media causes sleeplessness, insecurity, and distraction. A strong sense of self-esteem and parental involvement mediate these effects.
· And the importance of media can be reduced by having family time where no electronic devices are used for a specific period of time daily or on a certain day of the week.
· Note whether characters on media sites such as Tik Tok are real or fictional before becoming involved
· Metrics show how much interaction posts are receiving, causing a sense of self-judgment and comparison about social media involvement.
· Parental involvement and overseeing what sites your kids are using is an important factor in keeping them safe.
· Note signs that something is wrong – If you notice a change in your child’s behavior, they may be the victim of cyberbullying or being left out. Have age-appropriate conversations to help kids distinguish real vs. fake content. Take advantage of parental controls.
Specific Groups’ Tips and Information
Girls are socialized to believe that their worth is in their appearance and these beliefs make them more susceptible to social media effects and mental health issues. Platforms are aware of this influence.
· SM sites offer girls the chance to “flaunt it” especially if they have the more “Barbie-type” sex goddess as an ideal, which can lead to early sexual activity. Early exposure to sexualized media is clearly connected with earlier sexual activity. Ideally, girls should become sexually active after careful consideration, when they feel comfortable and when their activity matches their values.
· Boys are exposed to images of muscular males with an invitation to join the posts. When male viewers buy into the images and become extreme in their workouts and dietary plans, eating disorders can result.
· Horror shows & vampire shows often misrepresent that violence is sexy
· They are already under pressure developmentally with body image, which can affect girls who want to maintain a societal standard, leading to eating disorders and too much exercise. This is also true of boys. Transgender kids or those who don’t identify with their birth gender are even more impacted by social media.
· It is difficult to tell what is real, due to apps that can change body presentation to one of perfection. Events and vacations are also portrayed as better than they really are.
· An imaginary or real audience is perceived to be continually watching and judging you. Social media can transform the imaginary audience into a real one.
· Black women are more likely to use social media than other groups to connect with peers and their culture, which may be counter-productive due to the exaggerated ideals that they see. They choose YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram most frequently.
While viewers frequently feel lonelier after social media use, they feel less lonely after viewing Instagram. Research is examining the reasons for this difference. Sexual victimization online was the only type that negatively impacted body image.
Minimizing harm
· Parental involvement Is the most important factor. Talk to kids about the images they see and the apps they use. Stay interested. Talk to them about it and listen to see if you need to regulate their media, especially for younger kids.
· Understand that there are a lot of good reasons to participate in social media. There are complex discussions that can be mind-expanding, special interest groups, and connections with friends. It becomes harmful when it is used to gain self-worth.
· No technology going to bed. It interrupts sleep and can be upsetting. Younger kids can use a smartphone with no apps or only with parental approval.
· Keep them busy. They need sleep-focused study, exercise, chores at home, family interaction, and community interactions.
· Beware of algorithms. They can grab your info and send things you don’t want.
· Avoid Fostering “That Girl” Image – The perfectly put-together girl that many girls seek to become but is unrealistic.
· Start early. It’s still true that you should do what you want your kids to do, and not just tell them what to do. Be a good role model in terms of how much you use social media and all media, how well you listen when they need you vs. continuing on screens
Ways to apply conscious viewing to various forms of media
· News and Politics – Fact check, Fact check, Fact check. Avoid disinformation sites or getting news through social media. Avoid doom scrolling, which is viewing bad news on several sites.
· Science Fiction – There has been a large uptake in shows about vampires, dark forces, and frightening planetary possibilities. View only what makes you feel better afterward unless you can view consciously and mindfully, noting the effects of what you are watching in your body, mind, and emotions so that you can choose whether to continue or not.
· Drama – Those with less drama in their lives tend toward greater involvement with movies and TV that are dramatic for vicarious living. Remain conscious. When Breaking Bad went off the air, I was consulted about how viewers could recover from the loss. Clearly, these viewers were overly involved. Studies show that viewers who watch too many crime shows have a greatly exaggerated idea of the amount of crime in the world. They may become reclusive as they fear for their safety. The draw is an emotional roller coaster that is satisfying to the viewer. When asked why people so love Hallmark movies, I explained that the roller coaster highs and lows are not too deep and are predictable, making them a feel-good choice.
· Relationships – The typical media journey through love generally involves conflict and pain before the object of desire is attained. Be careful not to believe that love and friendship have to be as complex as a hero’s journey (mission, obstacles, helpful friends, final conflict, attainment of desire – Think Wizard of Oz).