How Technology, Social Media, and Current Events Profoundly Affect Adolescents

It is an extraordinary time for adolescents. Social media has a profound positive and negative influence on adolescents, drugs of abuse are readily available, social and sexual mores are changing, discussion about many aspects of racism is more prominent than ever, and surveys indicate that the prevalence of mental illness in teens is higher than any previous time. How Technology, Social Media, and Current Events Profoundly Affect Adolescents examines eighteen contemporary issues and their impact on the biological, psychological, and social domains in adolescents. Using research and clinical studies, this book reviews a host of issues that includes sleep, obesity, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use, suicidality/self-harm, cyberbullying, racism/discrimination, LGBTQ, gender dysphoria, poverty, divorce, bereavement, mortality, and more. In addition to these issues, the book provides an analysis of current events and their impact on adolescents, including the COVID pandemic and war in Ukraine. With over 750 references cited, the book delivers a contemporary overview of major adolescent issues and how they relate to one another, including the impacts of war, technology, and the pandemic on youth. In addition, a broad overview of the major biopsychosocial issues facing adolescents is offered. There are multiple themes that include the importance of role modeling, monitoring, and talking with teens as well as the strong influence of parents, peers, and schools on adolescents.

Mark A. Goldstein M.D. is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Founding Chief Emeritus of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. After attending the Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Goldstein completed a residency in Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Goldstein has authored, co-authored, or edited numerous scientific publications and books.
Myrna Chandler Goldstein M.A. is an Independent Scholar and Writer with a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland. She has been a journalist for more than 30 years and has authored or co-authored 17 books and numerous articles. She has won awards from the Massachusetts Press Association, the New England Press Association, and the American Library Association CHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles Award.

- Dedication
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I. Biological Issues
- 1. Sleep
- 2. Obesity
- 3. Stress
- Part II. Psychological Issues
- 4. Anxiety
- 5. Depression
- 6. Eating Disorders
- 7. Substance Use
- 8. Suicidality/Self-Harm
- Part III. Social Issues
- Social Media Related Issues
- 9. Cyberbullying
- 10. Problematic Internet Use
- Discrimination Related Issues
- 11. Racism/Discrimination
- 12. LGBTQ
- 13. Transgender and Gender Dysphoria
- 14. Poverty
- Life Events
- 15. Divorce
- 16. Bereavement and Mortality
- Part IV. Current Events
- 17. COVID
- 18. War
- Glossary
- Index