Opinion || “Adolescence” is the series of the moment. And it is also a unique moment for parents to work on this – the room is no longer a safer place than the street
Yes, there is a risk of violence when a teenager uses a screen. It is necessary to analyze the types of violence (against one’s own and against others) and what factors are associated with this risk (for example, personal, context) to bet on prevention and early detection of alarm situations.
Regarding Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham’s “Adolescence” series, the figures of what is happening in Portugal with our young people, which show an increase in violent behaviors in 2024, compared to 2023, have emerged.
Are the numbers a greater capacity of young people complaining and asking for help? This in itself is positive.
In the discussion we made on this topic, based on our clinical experience with young people and families, and in research in cyberpsychology and forensic psychology concluded: a homicide, suicide, a bullying and cyberbullying behavior are alarming acts, bring suffering and trauma to an entire educational community – however, we cannot stay for the numbers.
The clinic and investigation also leave the warning that young people subject to bullying and cyberbullying, while victims but also as observers, may be likely to direct aggressive behaviors for themselves (suicidal ideation, self -mutilation, suicide) or to others (planning a violent act, passing on to the act).
A young man with a screen in his hand and closed in his room may be contacting a world out there, with various risks simultaneously (from online dependence to cybersecurity issues).
When so we have to look at at least two risk factors, which are regarded in the current literature as relevant:
1. Psychological vulnerability, which translates into low self -esteem, anxiety, depression, social isolation. A young man has several challenges inherent to the development phase, related to the formation of his identity and belongs to a group. When difficulties arise in these dynamics, the screen can function like the one that gives support, which is next door. Not always what is visualized on the screen is positive. Gaming communities, more extremist online communities, or WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord groups can be examples of aggressive communication. However, they are still a group of belonging where a most vulnerable young man receives attention and becomes more permeable to any pressure and social influence.
2. Context and family history. The way we are linked, how we communicate and resolve family conflicts is a basis for what will be our way of interacting in today’s world, whether online or offline. Emotional security, supervision and parental emotional regulation are essential in the management of this trio: screen, youth and fourth. Parental beliefs that a young man in the room is safer, that is well and is studying are a first step towards the lack of supervision and negotiation of rules and limits for the use of technology.
That said, and going back to the “Adolescence” series, there is an interesting message of family transgectionality: the father states that his father was aggressive and that he did not want to perpetuate this parental style with his children and that he may have been milder and less participative in his son’s life. Let the idea that I saw him calmly in his room, with the screen, and as such he let him be.
In what may be the natural conflicts between parents and children in adolescence it is important to never lose a communication channel through a common interest, which allows dialogue and appreciation – this is an important vehicle to maintain connectivity to the inner world of young people.
The screen is not a substitute for people. Although people can be met through a screen, we need the touch, the smell, the look. In the presence of the other we can feel as it is, by reading nonverbal language. Young people who are at risk, deliver their internal world to what the online world returns them, need this connectivity even more, this presence.
