Social networks and individual consumption of online content are creating new generational gaps, reducing intergenerational dialogue and increasing mental health problems.
The alert is from the Order of Psychologists and there are many cases of increasing differences in values within each family.
For example, Ana, 52 years old, has always voted left-wing and was surprised by the fact that her eldest son voted far-right in the March legislative elections. “I had no idea about her political ideas. We don’t discuss politics, but I never thought there was someone with such extreme ideas at home”, said the mother, who blamed “Tiktok and YouTube videos” for her son’s political choices.
Speaking to Lusa on the eve of World Social Network Day, the vice-president of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists Sofia Ramalho considered that this is just one example that is repeated in many households, in which 'online' consumption increases the difference in values , ideology and convictions between generations.
“This polarization and the most extreme positions can have an impact on mental health, but on the other hand, also on the intergenerational dialogue itself, within families”, said the expert.
Individual consumption of social networks constitutes “a test of our individual resilience, as people, and the resilience of our democracy, taking into account the dissemination of false information”, he highlighted.
Psychologists identify an increase in anxieties and mental health problems, in many cases related to the polarized environment of society, but also cases of online addiction.
Despite this, Sofia Ramalho considered that it is “possible to use technology in favor of inclusion, in favor of dialogue and civic participation itself”, looking for “platforms that facilitate this dialogue between different generations and that facilitate the mutual appreciation of different experiences and backgrounds ages.”
Awakened by the fact that her son had completely different beliefs from hers, Ana decided to discover online forums and far-right digital influencers in Portugal.
“I now understand why he voted for who he voted for. It could be to upset you or because you feel there is no answer. But, perhaps, it is also my responsibility for giving up discussing the problems at home”, said the mother.
Now, they start watching the news on television as a family and, whenever they can, try to discuss current issues.
“He can even vote where he voted, but it is important that he understands that things are complicated” and that “the country’s problems cannot be resolved overnight”, he explained.
For Sofia Ramalho, it is essential that society makes an effort to promote “digital literacy”, in a “logic of developing transversal skills, namely, for example, critical sense and discernment to be able to distinguish what is true information from information false.”
Rui is 17 years old and already knows where he will vote. Son of conservative parents, he has already decided that he will vote for a party that defends “the environment in the most radical way possible. No compromise.”
“I only watch 'reels' and videos about the world's problems. We are destroying the world and people don’t care,” she said, downplaying traditional political themes.
“What does GDP [Gross Domestic Product] matter if there is no planet for us to live on in a few years?” – He asked, anxiously.
In families, Sofia Ramalho advocates that parents get involved in their children's online consumption: “It is important to have a family dialogue about the use of digital platforms or social networks rather than controlling what the youngest consume”.
Especially because, he highlighted, from adolescence onwards, consumption is “naturally autonomous” in order to demarcate parents.
Platforms “must be subject to transparency policies, held responsible for what they do in “combating hate speech”, he said.
“The social networks that are frequented by young people are not the same as those frequented by adults”, but there are “joint platforms”, but “the contents are different” which, in practice, means that the information bubbles are complementary separated.
“Dialogue must be maintained outside the internet”, within families, “so that it is possible for each generation to deal critically with their consumption”. And “this can only be achieved through dialogue and discussion”.
However, excessive time on the internet “hinders the opportunity for face-to-face dialogue, critical discussion, between parents and children”, he highlighted.
Author Paulo Agostinho, from the Lusa agency
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