East African Gazette
Kampala
Captain Mike Mukula, the vice-chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, for Eastern Uganda has drawn attention to the mounting problem of social media misuse.
He specifically highlighted the vulnerability of young and inexperienced users, who are increasingly exposed to the detrimental effects of artificial intelligence’s growing complexity.
Recent studies indicate a growing trend of social media misuse among the youth in Uganda.
Mukula, a well-known politician and entrepreneur, underscores the role of algorithms in amplifying the spread of misinformation, encouraging addictive behavior, and reinforcing extreme views through echo chambers.
He also warns about the potential threats to privacy and truth in online interactions posed by AI-driven deep fake technology.
“While social media may offer some benefits, there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Social media use by young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of young people ages 13-27 reporting using a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” Mukula noted an interview.
With adolescence and childhood representing a critical stage in brain development that can make young people more vulnerable to harms from social media, Captain Mike Mukula is issuing a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children.
“Usage of social media can become harmful depending on the amount of time children spend on the platforms, the type of content they consume or are otherwise exposed to, and the degree to which it disrupts activities that are essential for health like sleep and physical activity. Importantly, different children are affected by social media in different ways, including based on cultural, historical, and socio-economic factors. Among the benefits”-Mukula
He further said adolescents report shows that social media helps them feel more accepted (58%), like they have people who can support them through tough times (67%), like they have a place to show their creative side (71%), and more connected to what’s going on in their friends’ lives (80%).
However, social media use can be excessive and problematic for some children. Recent research shows that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety; yet one 2022 survey of teenagers found that, on average, they spend 3.5 hours a day on social media. Social media may also perpetuate body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls. One-third or more of girls aged 11-15 say they feel “addicted” to certain social media platforms and over half of teenagers report that it would be hard to give up social media.
When asked about the impact of social media on their body image, 46% of adolescents aged 13-17 said social media makes them feel worse, 40% said it makes them feel neither better nor worse, and only 14% said it makes them feel better. Additionally, 64% of adolescents are “often” or “sometimes” exposed to hate-based content through social media. Studies have also shown a relationship between social media use and poor sleep quality, reduced sleep duration, sleep difficulties, and depression among youth.