Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I draw to the attention of the Cathaoirleach a unique study which was presented yesterday at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in Denver by researchers from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland. According to the lead researcher, Dr. Frank Scott, it showed there is a downside to new media such as texting and networking of which parents and teachers need to be aware. The study was carried out among more than 4,000 students in secondary schools in the United States and found that adolescents who are hyper-texting and hyper-networking are more likely to be sexually promiscuous, have multiple partners, suicide ideation and are susceptible to drugs, alcohol and cigarette smoking. This is startling and is a unique study. I do not know of any previous review that has studied the negative effects of texting and intensive social networking. The parameters of hyper-texting amount to writing 120 texts a day and social networking on-line for three hours per day. This is a very serious warning about teenagers who are hyper-texting and hyper-social networking. It is contrary to what one thinks when one sees them on their phones. One thinks it is fantastic. The perception is that they are engaging with other young people and appear to have loads of friends. The 22% of young people who do not engage in hyper-texting and intensive social networking have much better health outcomes. I am pleased to draw this warning to the attention of the House.