Dr. Norman Goldwasser (Horizons)

Trauma, Addiction, and Cyberbullying: The Perils of Social Media

This presentation will be focusing on both the helpful aspects of social media, as well as the many difficult challenges that people who use this medium face in their lives. An overview of the various ways that social media negatively impacts people will be followed by discussions specifically addressing how social media affects self-esteem, anxiety, OCD, and depression, especially amongst teenagers and pre-teens. Special emphasis will be placed on the criteria of addiction, and how social media use fits the description of an addiction. Finally, cyber bullying will also be addressed, as well as ways that parents and individuals can more effectively deal with this very pernicious challenge.