Health Highlights: The Impact of Digital Mirrors on Mental Health

The upcoming movie Inside Out 2 introduces four new emotions that are likely to resonate with audiences. One of these emotions is ennui, pronounced awn-WEE, which is a type of boredom commonly seen in pre-teen or teen years. Kyle Boerke, PsyD, a child psychologist with OSF HealthCare, emphasizes the importance of teaching children to understand and name their emotions from a young age. He praises the first Inside Out movie for its role in helping children do so.

Parents can use the Inside Out movies as a valuable tool for teaching kids that there are no “bad” emotions, only unhealthy ways of expressing them. As social media becomes more prevalent among children, with up to 95% of kids aged 13-17 and nearly 40% of those aged 8-12 using social media platforms, it’s important to recognize the impact it can have on mental health.

The pressure to present a “picture-perfect” image on social media can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression among users. Dr. Boerke describes the phenomenon of comparing oneself to influencers on social media, known as “upward social comparison,” and emphasizes the negative effects of spending excessive time on social media. To combat these issues, he recommends limiting exposure to social media and avoiding individuals who engage in negative behaviors like body shaming.