Guardian article: Urgent need to understand link between teens self-diagnosing disorders and social media use

[DisappearingGirl]

amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/09/urgent-need-to-understand-link-between-teens-self-diagnosing-disorders-and-social-media-use-experts-say

There is an “urgent need” to investigate the increasing number of children and teenagers self-diagnosing with neurological conditions, mental illnesses and personality disorders, a trend being driven by social media and difficulty accessing healthcare, psychiatrists and paediatricians say.

A paper published in January in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry describes how prolonged social media use, especially on video-sharing platforms including TikTok, is exposing young people to a growing number of content creators making videos about their self-described tics, Tourette syndrome and other self-diagnosed disorders.

Trans isn't mentioned, but the parallels seem obvious!

I saw an article today yesterday in the Guardian about the city of Seattle suing SM because of its malign effects on young people's mental health. I had only a quick read and don't recall trans being mentioned.

To me it seems conspicuous in its absence.

About time. My child has Tourette’s - which normally begins before SM use, as in my child, around ages 6 to 8 yers - but I’ve been told that there is such a long waiting list now to get actually seen let alone some support for it because the avalanche of older teenagers who are presenting with Tics that are from their SM use.

Its impact is far reaching. Not just to kids but also there is a lack of services.

Found it

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/08/seattle-public-schools-sue-social-media-platforms-youth-mental-health-crisis

I started a thread on this yesterday:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4715926-teenagers-are-self-diagnosing-mental-health-problems-because-of-social-media

@RoyalCorgi oops sorry! I did look but didn't see it