Digital Media, Mental Health, and Relationships Panel from Pamela DellaPietra on Vimeo.

In October of 2018, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development hosted a series of expert panels during the Digital Media and Developing Minds National Conference. Among the expert speakers was Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D., project director of the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab at Wellesley Centers for Women. Dr. Charmaraman joined Larry Rosen, Ph.D., of California State University, Emily Weinstein, Ed.D., of Project Zero, and Moderator Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Ph.D., of the University of Arizona for a panel discussion titled Digital Media, Mental Health, and Relationships.

Dr. Charmaraman spoke to audiences about teen use of social media and its impact on mental health. She presented research findings on the types of relationships teens seek out via social media and their effect on the wellbeing of younger users. Dr. Charmaraman also reported increased online social anxiety and lack of sleep in teens who joined social media earlier than some of their peers. On the other hand, some participants reported that social media allowed for some positive relationships such as support from peers or family members.

October 15, 2018