The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children, who show problems in social development, is increasing rapidly. If children watch media at an early age, they lose the time to interact with their parents and will not be able to play creatively, which can have a negative impact on social development. This study was performed to evaluate the association of media exposure with social developmental delay.
Less parent-child play time and letting a baby watch a lot of television are linked to increased signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in childhood.
Kids who use media in their bedrooms often don't get enough sleep at night. Media use also can expose kids to cyberbullying, which has been linked to depression and suicide. And media use can distract kids from important tasks, interfere with homework time, and hurt school performance.
The media is the general public’s most important source of information about mental health conditions and cognitive neurodivergences, such as ASD [15]. It not only serves to mirror public opinions but also to take part in molding them [16]. The media’s negative portrayal of psychiatric conditions may lead to the reinforcement of stigma and stereotypes; however, the media may also contribute to increasing the recognition and understanding of these conditions which may improve public attitudes.
Social media can have both positive and negative effects on children and adolescents on the autism spectrum.
Social media can help autistic youth make social connections and find communities with shared interests.
The negative impacts of social media on mental health and sleep may be greater for autistic youth.
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