The Social Media Rabbit Hole: Are We All Mad Here? Sponsored by ACLP's Pediatric C-L Psychiatry SIG

Abstract: Social media platforms are a prolific method of entertainment, communication, and content exchange. Initially widely more popular among and utilized by youth, a recent survey suggests up to 72% of US adults use at least one social media app, most on a daily basis (1). Social media content is largely unmonitored, plagued with misinformation (2), promotion of risky behaviors such as substance use (3), self-harm, (4) and potentially lethal “challenges” (5), and well suited for the rapid spread of sociogenic illness (6). Additionally, anonymous features of many apps allow for harassment, sexual exploitation and the exchange of illicit substances (3). Knowledge of social media apps by consultation-liaison psychiatrists is imperative for a culturally informed assessment.





This engaging and interactive workshop will provide an up-to-date overview of the most widely used social media apps, current social media trends, and cyber laws and regulations.






Dr. Brett Lloyd will introduce and moderate the workshop.



Dr. Sonya Sandhu will provide an overview of the most current social media apps, introduce essential jargon, and identify the role of “influencers” (20 minutes).





Dr. Laura Markley will highlight social media challenges which have resulted in medical and psychiatric hospitalizations, introduce the world of cyber pro-anorexia and pro-self-harm communities, and emphasize social media’s role in psychiatric symptom/ diagnosis contagion. (20 minutes).





Dr. Ewa Bieber will review the current literature on the association of cyberbullying and mental health. She will present up-to-date legislation regarding cyberbullying and review legal resources for those exploited through social media (20 minutes).





The final 30 minutes will allow the opportunity for hands-on exploration of social media apps guided by native users, questions, and discussion.

References:




1. 1.Social Media Fact Sheet. Pew Research Center. April 7, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/. Date accessed: March 19, 2022


2. 2. Suarez-Lledo V, Alvarez-Galvez J. Prevalence of Health Misinformation on Social Media: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2021;23(1): e17187


3. 3.Moyle L, Childs A, Coomber R, Barratt MJ. #Drugsforsale: An exploration of the use of social media and encrypted messaging apps to supply and access drugs. Int J Drug Policy, 2019; 63:101-110


4. 4. Moreno MA, Ton A, Selkie E, Evans Y. Secret Society 123: Understanding the Language of Self-Harm on Instagram. J Adolesc Health. 2016; 58(1): 78-84.


5. 5. Cost B, Grace A, Dellatto M, Hegedus E. The 23 craziest TikTok challenges so far and the ordeals they’ve caused. New York Post. 2021 Dec 22.


6. 6. Müller-Vahl KR, Pisarenko A, Jakubovski E, Fremer C. Stop that! It's not Tourette's but a new type of mass sociogenic illness. Brain. 2021 Aug 23: awab316. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab316. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34424292.