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SALT LAKE CITY — The Black Physicians of Utah will be tackling one of this year's hot-button health issues — social media — in a back-to-school conference on Aug. 17.
The nonprofit is inviting youth ages 11-18 and their parents to the five-hour event, where it will host discussions about mental health issues and finding balance with technology. The conference is open to anyone, but organizers hope underresourced communities will attend.
There's a lot for both parents and youth to learn about social media, said Greg Noel, a mental health professional who will facilitate the conference.
"These tools are not going anywhere," Noel said. It's important for parents to understand how integral smartphones and social media are to the teen social scene. For some kids, losing a smartphone is "almost like losing a limb."
Today's teens have grown up with tech — almost half of 8- to 12-year-olds have their own smartphones, jumping up to 88% by age 14. It can be hard for millennial or Gen X parents to understand the intense social pressure teens feel to be online, Noel says.
"We're hoping that parents are able to walk away with a sense of understanding," he said. "(The internet) isn't just something they (kids) can … unplug and walk away from."
At the same time, he wants teens to learn accountability and mindfulness when it comes to their devices. This is an issue for all teens, but nonwhite or lower-income families tend to be disproportionately affected.
Larger shares of Black and Hispanic teens report being on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok "almost constantly" compared with white teens, Pew Research Center reports. The center also found that 71% of teens in lower-income households use TikTok, versus 61% of teens in the highest-income households. The survey doesn't indicate if increased screen time contributes to higher rates of mental health challenges in affected communities. However, the U.S. surgeon general announced in June that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms.
Disenfranchised, historically underresourced communities often deal with housing instability, financial instability, food insecurity and prejudice, Noel says. When faced with a difficult reality, social media becomes "a really inexpensive form of escapism."
The key is to put safeguards and preventive measures in place to maximize productivity and connection online. Black Physicians of Utah will be offering practical strategies to teens and parents at the back-to-school conference.
One critical piece of the puzzle is parental modeling. It'll be almost impossible for kids to shut off the screens if the adults in their life won't.
"Parents, look in the mirror," Noel said. "Don't be hypocritical. If you're telling your kid to put their phone down, you should, too."
And then replace screen time with quality activities. Developmental psychologist Gordon Neufeld's theory of attachment suggests that social media is a hollow replacement for real, in-person connection. Teens need to feel a deep sense of belonging and significance — otherwise, they might keep going back to social media for a temporary fix.
The back-to-school conference will be held Aug. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 322 N. 2200 West in Salt Lake City. Tickets are still available for $5. If the entry fee is a barrier to attendance, families can use a promotional code for free admission. Tickets include breakfast and lunch.
