By Christine Naadu Lartey
Tema, Feb. 10, GNA – Mrs Naana Egyiriba Idun-Acquah, a Public Health Nurse at the Tema General Hospital, has cautioned adolescents against the uncontrolled use of social media, noting that excessive screen time is negatively affecting their health, academic performance, and personal safety.
Mrs Idun-Acquah, who is also the Adolescent Focal Person for Tema Central, said although social media had notable benefits, its misuse was increasingly contributing to harmful behaviour among young people.
Addressing students of the Tema Industrial Mission, she observed that many adolescents spend long hours online, leading to skipped meals, delayed eating, and inadequate sleep due to phone addiction.
She explained that scrolling through social media while eating affects proper nutrition, while late-night browsing often results in headaches, fatigue, and poor concentration in school.
Mrs Idun-Acquah added that instead of paying attention during lessons, some students fall asleep in class or become mentally distracted by social media content.
She expressed concern that the habit spreads easily among peers, as students often share videos during lessons, disrupting teaching and learning.
She advised adolescents to set clear screen-time limits and strictly adhere to schedules they create for their social media use.
The adolescent focal person further cautioned young girls to be wary of online predators posing as wealthy or successful individuals.
She noted that some of these predators were school dropouts living in deprived communities who created fake profiles to lure girls into unsafe meetings.
According to her, such encounters frequently lead to unplanned pregnancies and other life-altering consequences that could derail the future of young people.
Mrs Idun-Acquah urged adolescents to be cautious about whom they accept as friends online and to block anyone who bullies them.
She reminded them that although the internet helps people stay connected, their education and physical safety must remain a priority to ensure they grow into successful adults.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo / Lydia Kukua Asamoah