If you’re a teenager reading this article, the chances are you’ve already watched porn. It may have been on your phone, laptop, tablet, or – as the classic response goes – you happened to maybe see some pictures on your friend’s phone that one time. Whatever the case may be for you, research shows that in answer to the question, “do teens watch porn?” about 67% of 13-year-old boys and
You might have gotten the call from another parent, who was appalled. Or the school administrator. Or maybe you found out about it yourself. Inadvertently saw some of the photos on your teen’s phone. Read some of the racy texts. How you discovered it doesn’t matter. Ultimately, you caught your teen sexting. Help! My Teen is Sexting. Sexting involves the exchange of sexually explicit content, such as messages or photographs,
You’ve heard it since you got your phone in middle school: “Too much time on that thing is going to rot your brain.” But you know that’s not true. You use your phone every day and you’re totally fine. Your brain, despite the sage predictions of your parents, has not turned to mush. Gray matter is not running out of your ears. You don’t get the shakes when you accidentally
Child trafficking is a serious problem in the U.S. and worldwide. This abhorrent practice almost disappeared in the U.S. in the 1990s, but is back, and increasing every year. The return of child trafficking is directly related to the prevalence of the internet, smartphones, and social media/messaging technology. Texting and messaging technology appeared in the late 1990s, grew in popularity in the 2000s, then exploded between 2010 and 2012 with
Online Predators Target Adolescent Males When we think of online predators – more accurately, when we think of the victims of online predators – we most often think of young women. We think of teenage girls. We imagine older men grooming vulnerable young women, luring them into compromising situations that can end in about a thousand bad ways, up to an including the worst possible outcomes – which we won’t
Is Texting While Driving a Warning Sign or Risk Factor for Addiction? There’s an interesting phenomenon in the field of mental health research that’s developed over the past fifteen years. We should clarify that. The phenomenon developed in a subfield of mental health research: addiction research. The subject of the phenomenon we’re talking about goes by several names. Here are the thee most common: Cell phone addiction Internet addiction Social
Problem Gambling Among Adolescents When parents think of the behavioral, mental health, or emotional disorders their children might experience or develop during adolescence, a gambling addiction or disorder typically isn’t at the top of their what should I worry about? checklist. During this pandemic era, most parents have their attention on the mental health issues adolescent development experts warned them about back in March 2020. They look for signs of
Adolescents are social creatures who need social outlets to stay healthy. Many teens rely on social media to connect with others. It’s free, widely used, and easily accessible. And while social media is a reliable source of support for teens, a new study shows it’s less effective than real-life support. Social support provides a sense of belonging, confidence, and security. It reminds teens that there are people who care and
Every year on May 7th, a committed group of private, public, and non-profit organizations join together to celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (CMHAD). CMHAD has two primary goals: Raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health Show that positive mental health is an essential aspect of child development This year, more than any year in our recent memory, concerns about the mental health of our children are
The average teenager spends seven hours online every day for entertainment. While spending more time online is a reality of modern life, it changes the way adolescents interact with one another, often in negative ways. For example, too much time on social media can increase your child’s risk of being bullied online and becoming a cyberbully, according to a study from the University of Georgia. Teens were most likely to
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