英兒童上網交友過度 純潔友情竟變質
Teenagers can suffer from 'Facebook depression' after becoming obsessed with the social networking website, an influential group of doctors has warned. Being shunned on a social networking website can be more harmful than if a child is ignored by their friends in real-life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group, which has published its first set of social media guidelines, explains that online harassment 'can cause profound psycho-social outcomes', including suicide – as seen with schoolboy Tom Mullaney last May.
隨着科技愈來愈發達，互聯網在我們的生活中佔有顯著的位置。然而，我們會發現互聯網讓我們更接近的同時，另一方面，卻讓我們日漸疏遠。本着交友至上、幫助網民在虛擬世界裏建立友誼的社交網絡--臉譜網（Facebook）卻讓兒童在交友問題上負擔變重，心理缺失明顯。在最近一項調查中發現，在虛擬網絡中被朋友“隔絕”或者和朋友“鬧翻”比在實際生活中更加傷人，對兒童造成的心理創傷會更大，“虛擬世界中的隔閡”甚至有造成自殺的危險，這項研究結果由《美國兒科協會》提出，引起廣泛關注。
AAP lead researcher Dr Gwenn O'Keeffe, a Boston-based paediatrician, said that social media had the power to 'interfere with homework, sleep and physical activity' among the young. 'Parents need to understand these technologies so they can relate to their children's online world – and comfortably parent in that world,' she said. The AAP guidelines state teenagers need to be monitored when using Facebook. Dr O'Keeffe added that the site provides a skewed view because its users cannot see body language or facial expressions which provide context for messages posted on the site.
來自《美國兒科協會》的首席研究員Dr Gwenn O'Keeffe說：“社交網絡對我們生活影響巨大，特別是對於當今的青少年兒童這一塊人羣來說，社交網絡過渡地深入我們的生活，影響睡眠質量以及生活狀態等等。”此外，研究員Dr Gwenn O'Keeffe還建議，作爲父母，他們應該和自己的孩子一道學習社交網絡技能，並融入孩子們的虛擬世界中，這樣有助於正確引導孩子們的交友方面的價值觀。在一個由美國兒科協會起草的網絡社交網站指南上，專家們給孩子提供了專業的、健康的指導，因孩子們在使用社交網絡的時候，不能看到對方的身體語言、以及臉部表情等等，在指導中，專家們特別提供了可供孩子們參考可正確鑑別對方信息的方式、方法。
Studies to determine the effects of using Facebook have been inconclusive, with some experts suggesting it is good for your self-esteem. Dr Megan Moreno, a University of Wisconsin adolescent medicine specialist who has studied online social networking among college students, said using Facebook can enhance social connections among some youngsters, while having the opposite effect on those prone to depression. She said parents should not think that the site 'is going to somehow infect their kids with depression'.
據悉，隨着關於如何正確使用Facebook社交網絡的研究的深入，越來越多的專家認爲此舉有助於提高自我意識、自尊的建立。來自威斯康星大學的研究青春期醫學的專家Dr Megan Moreno表示，社交網絡可以加強年輕人之間的友誼以及他們的聯繫，使得交友更加便捷和方便。然而，社交網絡對交友帶來的負面影響不容忽視，當然，父母們也不用太過緊張，只要平衡兩者之間的利弊，就可以把虛擬交友功能儘可能的發揮。
