Digital Content Excessively Can Disturb Children's Mental Health

JAKARTA - In an increasingly advanced digital era, children are more easily exposed to various types of content through social media and other online platforms. Unfortunately, not all content consumed is positive.

Excessive exposure to information containing violence, unrealistic beauty standards, or consumptive lifestyles can have a serious impact on children's mental health.

Disorders such as anxiety, self-lowness, and depression can arise if there is no assistance from adults in filtering out the information they see every day.

Clinical psychologist Phoebe Ramadina, M.Psi., from the University of Indonesia emphasized that exposure to negative content can continuously affect the way children think and act.

Quoting ANTARA, Monday, June 9, he stated that children who watch violence too often in digital media tend to view this behavior as normal.

Furthermore, Phoebe added exposure to content that displays unrealistic living standards and appearances can also trigger a sense of self-esteem in children. Children can become insecure, feel not good enough, even experience impaired body images or severe emotional stress.

"The negative content that often appears in digital media can have a serious impact on the mental health and behavior of children and adolescents," Phoebe said.

He reminded that an immature child's emotional condition can make them more vulnerable to the impact of provocative content, which triggers impulsive behavior, anxiety, or aggressiveness.

Without assistance, children tend to imitate what they see online, including deviant behavior such as bullying, promiscuity, and juvenile delinquency.

As a practitioner at the Personal Growth psychological institution, Phoebe emphasized the importance of the active role of parents and the surrounding environment in assisting children in managing their digital consumption. He suggested that parents build open communication and be present as companions when children explore cyberspace.

"This is not a matter of prohibition, but about providing children with the ability to sort healthy content and support their development," he explained.

In addition to the role of family, Phoebe advises schools to take part by strengthening character education, training social-emotional skills, and providing counseling rooms. Involving students in positive digital activities can also be an effective way to balance media influences.

He also emphasized the importance of the state's contribution in creating a more secure digital space. Such steps as tightening regulations on harmful content, carrying out public education campaigns, and supporting psychosocial research and services are considered very crucial.

According to him, collaboration between parents, schools, and the government will create a healthier digital ecosystem and support children's development as a whole.

"We need cross-sectoral cooperation to protect children from the negative impact of the digital world," he concluded.