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How Does the Brain Form Habits?
WHAT ARE HABITS?
This is a stereotype formed as a result of exposure to certain stimuli. That is an unconscious pattern of behavior. But you can also create it yourself.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FORM A HABIT?
A habit is a repeated behavior that is typically done without much thought. Habits can be good or bad. Good habits can include things like brushing your teeth and exercising regularly. Bad habits can include things like smoking or biting your nails.
WHY DO BAD HABITS FORM FASTER THAN HEALTHY HABITS?
Bad habits often form faster than healthy habits because they are usually based on instant gratification. For example, it can be very satisfying to eat delicious and unhealthy food, but it takes time and effort to see the benefits of eating healthy foods or exercising.
WHY CAN’T I TRY AND LEARN LOTS OF NEW GOOD HABITS AT ONCE?
Start one by one, don’t set unrealistic goals as these will make you less likely to achieve them. Give your brain the instant gratification that it’s looking for through a micro-goal approach. Share the habits you learn with others, people may give you some useful insight into what they do to better themselves.
HOW DO YOU LEARN A NEW HABIT?
Set a clear goal for yourself, and keep a diary of achievements. This will help you set, achieve, and remind yourself of the goals that you have set for yourself. Keep yourself focused on your goals, sometimes a good partner can help to keep you motivated even when you may not want to do it. Always break down the goals into small micro-goals and go step by step!
Safeguarding Childhood: Building a Digital Haven for Kids
In today's digital age, where social media reigns supreme, the innocence of childhood is under unprecedented threat. As parents, guardians and advocates for our children, it is imperative that we recognize the dangerous landscape that popular social media platforms present to our children. The unchecked collection of data by tech giants combined with the damaging psychological effects of early exposure to social media requires urgent action. Here's a deeper look into the dangers our children are facing and the urgent need for a platform that prioritizes their mental health and privacy while fostering their growth through access to meaningful information.
The Data Dilemma: From the moment our children enter the digital world of platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, their every interaction becomes a commodity to be exploited. Their likes, comments, clicks and scrolls are meticulously cataloged and sold to advertisers to turn their innocent digital footprints into lucrative marketing properties. This wanton disregard for privacy and transparency in data use is a cause for grave concern.
The Mental Health Crisis: Aside from the exploitation of data, the insidious nature of social media is also taking its toll on the mental wellbeing of our children. The incessant dopamine-fueled gratification loop that these platforms perpetuate desensitizes young users to real experiences while promoting unattainable standards of beauty, success and self-worth.
A Beacon of Hope: In the face of these daunting challenges, the call for a digital sanctuary tailored to safeguarding children's development and privacy grows louder. Such a platform must treat personal data not as a commodity but as a sacred trust, ensuring stringent privacy safeguards and transparency measures. Moreover, it should harness technology not to ensnare children but to empower them to lead healthier, more resilient lives.
Empowering Through Insight: By harnessing data analytics responsibly, children can gain invaluable insights into their emotional well-being, sleep patterns, and online behaviors. Armed with this self-knowledge, coupled with dedicated spaces for mindfulness practices and emotional intelligence education, children can chart a course towards holistic growth and fulfillment.
Seizing the Moment: As the era of unbridled data exploitation draws to a close, parents seek alternatives that prioritize their children's well-being. A platform founded on cutting-edge security standards and ethical data practices has the potential to revolutionize the digital landscape for our youth. It offers not only a refuge from the perils of mainstream social media but also an opportunity to shape future generations with integrity, resilience, and curiosity at its core.
The time for action is now. We cannot afford to stand idly by as our children's innocence and well-being are compromised in the digital sphere. With unwavering commitment to ethical principles and a vision centered on nurturing the next generation, we can build a digital haven where children thrive, empowered by knowledge, and shielded by privacy. Let us seize this moment to redefine the digital landscape and safeguard the precious years of childhood for generations to come.
The Impacts of Social Media on Children
The Impact of TikTok on Children's Mental Health
TikTok has exploded in popularity, becoming one of the most widely used social media platforms, especially among young people. While TikTok can be fun and entertaining, there are growing concerns about its effects on children's mental health and wellbeing.
Social Media Use and Mental Health Issues
Numerous studies have linked high social media use with increased risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem in children and teens. A 2019 study found that adolescents who use social media more than 3 hours per day are at higher risk for mental health problems (Viner et al., 2019).
TikTok's Addictive Design and Content
TikTok is designed to be highly addictive, with an endless feed of short videos that are recommended based on viewing habits using advanced AI algorithms. Kids can easily spend hours endlessly scrolling. The content on TikTok often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, risky behavior, and negative emotions like sadness or anger, which can be harmful (Barnes, 2022).
Negative Impacts on Self-Esteem and Body Image
Videos on TikTok frequently feature users editing their appearance and bodies in unrealistic ways. This flood of edited media has been linked to increased rates of body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and low self-esteem among young people (Chavez, 2022). Pre-teen girls who use TikTok heavily are more likely to develop negative thoughts about their bodies (Ferguson, 2022).
Cyberbullying on TikTok
Unfortunately, cyberbullying is a major issue on TikTok as well. Posts are often cruel, toxic and hurtful towards others. A survey found that 33% of teens have had a negative experience on TikTok (Headstream, 2022). Victims of cyberbullying are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation.
While TikTok can be entertaining, parents and health experts are rightly concerned about its negative impacts on young people's mental health and wellbeing. Monitoring usage, enabling screen time limits, and having open conversations about social media are recommended to mitigate these risks.