SHREVEPORT, La. ( WGNO ) – A Senate committee grilled the nation’s top social media executives on Wednesday about their platforms and the risks they pose to youth.
On the heels of that testimony, KMSS got an insight into the experience Louisiana youth have had, from mental health to human trafficking .
Shreveport-based therapist Natashia Fields said her field of work is seeing an increase in depression and suicidal thoughts.
“We have the bullying, we have the comparisons, where we have adolescents comparing themselves to what they see on social media,” said Fields. “It’s easy for children and adolescents to internalize all those things.”
Watch Beyond the Headlines: Human trafficking in Our Community
According to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General, about 95% of teenagers use social media. Technology is not only affecting depression but also violent crimes .
“In our district, in particularly in the Monroe-Shreveport areas, we utilize social media quite frequently in violent crime initiatives and investigations,” United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Brandon B. Brown, told KMSS, explaining that sometimes people post about the crimes they plan to commit. Brown also pointed to how social media has played a role in human trafficking .