Facebook and Twitter Could Affect ADHD and ADD
Social Networking May Impact Attention Disorders in Children
Sep 16, 2009
In a world where the next generation has created and communicates in cryptic language, types on a keyboard the size of a playing card without looking at it and has access to friends and links around the world, it’s not surprising that teachers and parents are concerned that all of this new social networking might be a problem, especially with attention span. For parents of teens with ADD and ADHD, this is especially concerning.
Facebook and Twitter Could Cause More Attention Problems
According to a leading neuroscientist and professor of synaptic pharmacology at Lincoln College, Oxford, and director of the Royal Institution, Lady Greenfield, there are drawbacks.
Dr. Greenfield speculates that children who use social networking sites "are devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance.” She explains that the consequence might include children to have a mind that is “infantilized” and characterized by short attention spans, sensationalism, without compassion and with a limited sense of real identity.
Social Networking Has Benefits in Building Important Skills
Dr. Brendesha Tynes, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois, disagrees with the idea of social networking creating problems. In her 2007 study Internet Safety Gone Wild? Sacrificing the Educational and Psychosocial Benefits of Online Social Environments, Dr. Tynes explains that online socialization with sites like Facebook can be enormously helpful to teens in establishing identity and learning life skills. According to Dr. Tynes, social networking allows young people to learn to communicate with strategy, helps build decision making abilities and constructively challenges teens to use critical thinking, all useful skills for people with ADD and ADHD. Her study shows that using these tools helps prepare children for challenges they will face as adults.
As the world changes and social interaction evolves with the internet, more research may reveal more of the impact Facebook and other forms of two-dimensional interaction have on people with ADD and ADHD. Certainly talking face to real face with other people has a sense of communication that cannot be accomplished through a keyboard or cellphone. Interpersonal communication skills are especially important for those who may already have issues with expressing themselves, impulsiveness or compassion.
Children with ADD and Facebook
When used properly and in moderation, social networks offer benefits, information and contact for young people, whether they have ADD or ADHD or not. However, children with attention disorders need extra monitoring in all aspects of their lives and the internet is no exception. Common sense should dictate that limiting time with internet social activity should be respected and parents would be wise to frequently observe the intensity and frequency in which a child is using a social network.
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