Dear Chris,
Thank you for asking.
We are all in new territory when it comes to the effect of social media,
but I think there is no doubt that our species is going through a social
and existential experiment the outcome of which can be quite disastrous.
Here is my take on today's childhood:
We are mammals, and all mammals play in order to get acquainted with
their own body and to develop empathy; through rough and tumble play, we
test our own strength and see when we hurt others or make them laugh as
we play.
With childhood increasingly occupied by organized play, sanctioned by
adults and taking place in front of screens, I would not be surprised if
there are parts of our neural setup that becomes underdeveloped and
which later in life cannot give us the normal emotional experiences of
being a body in the world and relating to other minds and bodies out there.
The screens also mean that we do not encounter other bodies and have our
mirror neurons activated; interaction is either written, by sound or by
video of the face only. The body is not involved.
Also, it takes a village to raise a child. We don't have those villages
any more, and we don't have family and tribal rituals that one can just
follow and which provide structure and comfort.
I agree regarding the gender issue, but will return to that later. :-)
/ Lene
On 07-01-2020 16:27, Christopher Hadnagy wrote:
> I rarely comment in this thread, as I feel wholly unqualified to sit
> at the table with the minds that Gregg has collected here. But this
> topic is one I often come in contact with during my work running the
> ILF (www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.innocentlivesfoundation.org&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=_THkEKzmYZomBS2wplN7CHh-3nWuCGP61prFTM1rq6M&s=R3qFY_ueVm0WNXUI2sJeaBlt6d2AmzWH2mHGroTNlWI&e=>)
>
> I have questions, that I want to pose but I feel they are questions
> that can start a fiery debate and I do not want to be a the receiving
> end of scathing criticism as I realize my knowledge on these topics is
> probably not up to par with the rest of you, so please take these are
> real questions I am asking as a parent, as a person who works with
> saving abused kids and as a 40 something that grew up in a world that
> went from low tech to all tech and from hard lines to almost invisible
> lines.
>
> The topic of growing teen suicide is troubling to me, my daughter who
> is 15 has an ever increasing number of friends who cut, burn, self
> harm and talk about ending it all. We have lost over 5 friends in the
> last 1.5 years to suicide, not counting the ones I know I would not
> consider close. Yes it seems easy to want to medicate it away, but I
> sit back and I observe my daughter and her interactions with friends
> both IRL (real life) and online. And here are my questions.
>
> Do you think that the usage of social media adds to feelings of
> depression and anxiety that could lead to self-harm and even suicidal
> thoughts? I have noticed with my daughter the constant need to compare
> herself to the “life” she sees others having online.
>
> Do you think the push to allow even very young children to choose a
> gender or be fluid with their identities is creating a rift in
> peacefulness and mindfulness? I find it so anxiety inducing to speak
> publicly, I do this a lot as part of my job. But something as simple
> as “Ladies and Gentlemen” will get met with harsh, SJW angst that
> makes me out to be a racist because I used that phrase.
>
> I read an article that spoke about, even though the “metoo” movement
> was so positive for helping women find a voice for bad treatment, most
> young men who are not predators are so afraid of being accused they
> avoid sexual contact – do you think this lack of human contact and
> expression can lead to the increase in these behaviors?
>
> (re:
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cbsnews.com_news_us-2Dfertility-2Dbirth-2Drate-2Ddecline-2Djodi-2Dkantor_&d=DwIDaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=Z2cZwWWngvhvdN-LA8pW8DvCh2sWOaw8pqOPYGTCUz8&s=EbUj_6bTIhKFopxfU-MO6bzGLrEiGZLGE3Ud3ubpcmc&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cbsnews.com_news_us-2Dfertility-2Dbirth-2Drate-2Ddecline-2Djodi-2Dkantor_&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=_THkEKzmYZomBS2wplN7CHh-3nWuCGP61prFTM1rq6M&s=yU4fl34fq8bMA6WxFvOabPxdi_UKR9NhfcGcMeJZ0-A&e=>)
>
>
> Anyhow, I will stop here, I am not one for long emails, I do apologize
> that my first time being involved in this discussion is at such
> controversial topics.
>
> I look forward to your comments and thoughts.
>
> Chris
>
> *From: *tree of knowledge system discussion
> <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of "Henriques, Gregg -
> henriqgx" <[log in to unmask]>
> *Reply-To: *tree of knowledge system discussion
> <[log in to unmask]>
> *Date: *Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 9:54 AM
> *To: *"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject: *Why are teens killing themselves at alarming rates
>
> Hi TOK List,
>
> As you know, I have been tracking the mental health crisis in our
> youth. Here is a brief op-ed in the times reviewing some of the
> disconcerting data on depression and suicide rates among teens.
>
> _https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nytimes.com_2020_01_06_opinion_suicide-2Dyoung-2Dpeople.html-3Fnl-3Dtodaysheadlines-26emc-3Dedit-5Fth-5F200107-3Fcampaign-5Fid-3D2-26instance-5Fid-3D14975-26segment-5Fid-3D20104-26user-5Fid-3D8e4f03af2447d5adeb5069c9fb9bdf47-26regi-5Fid-3D352238940107&d=DwIDaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=Z2cZwWWngvhvdN-LA8pW8DvCh2sWOaw8pqOPYGTCUz8&s=OqyVkw1dQ1EdTdtl3ZNhxLsTodm15Vx_aFKTtYJKbPM&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nytimes.com_2020_01_06_opinion_suicide-2Dyoung-2Dpeople.html-3Fnl-3Dtodaysheadlines-26emc-3Dedit-5Fth-5F200107-3Fcampaign-5Fid-3D2-26instance-5Fid-3D14975-26segment-5Fid-3D20104-26user-5Fid-3D8e4f03af2447d5adeb5069c9fb9bdf47-26regi-5Fid-3D352238940107&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=_THkEKzmYZomBS2wplN7CHh-3nWuCGP61prFTM1rq6M&s=QD_DgGr7Jklxa6cqw5NVA6mB4zHYOwhIePUEOE-Ax2E&e=>_
>
> It is by a psychiatrist, and, as is too often the case in
> psychiatry, depression is characterized in the piece as a disease like
> entity. Indeed, the author seems to believe that if we would only
> prescribe more meds, teen mental health would be better. I strongly
> disagree.
>
> I also believe the piece is a good reminder why we need clear and
> straightforward discussions on what depression IS. FYI, I was invited
> to do an NPR academic minute on this topic, which will becoming out in
> march. Here are the takes if you want to get ahead of the release 😊.
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.dropbox.com_sh_dms79kvhllm5mmt_AAAVQPmCkLBwLok1gKghcFipa-3Fdl-3D0&d=DwIDaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=Z2cZwWWngvhvdN-LA8pW8DvCh2sWOaw8pqOPYGTCUz8&s=RRSND0h6B4P7miXqRq97RZLr2Hs210ceexoVDxu2KyY&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.dropbox.com_sh_dms79kvhllm5mmt_AAAVQPmCkLBwLok1gKghcFipa-3Fdl-3D0&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=_THkEKzmYZomBS2wplN7CHh-3nWuCGP61prFTM1rq6M&s=K9KiQdTScIH-GYKKWcVZ44sMuOR5iTBSIQk-Iq8X5vE&e=>
>
> Here is the basic question I would ask regarding these alarming
> rates: */Are we raising our children in an anti-fragile way that
> fosters in them the capacity to grow into adults who can love, play,
> and work with deep purpose? /*
>
> Here is what the kindergarten teachers are saying about the job we are
> doing in the schools:
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.psychologytoday.com_us_blog_freedom-2Dlearn_201912_kindergarten-2Dteachers-2Dare-2Dquitting-2Dand-2Dhere-2Dis-2Dwhy&d=DwIDaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=Z2cZwWWngvhvdN-LA8pW8DvCh2sWOaw8pqOPYGTCUz8&s=KpHyMPJe_KHIPB_d8ivJr-bQziwLgbZGtqtc1OggAUE&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.psychologytoday.com_us_blog_freedom-2Dlearn_201912_kindergarten-2Dteachers-2Dare-2Dquitting-2Dand-2Dhere-2Dis-2Dwhy&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=_THkEKzmYZomBS2wplN7CHh-3nWuCGP61prFTM1rq6M&s=bpkXkx76T0V4tN8RtI8EERV7zds7PwTfFGKsoRB-ymw&e=>
>
> Best,
>
> Gregg
>
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