Teenagers are struggling with real-life interactions, says Dr Colman Noctor

Listen | 21:15
The pandemic robbed teenagers of the years they would have been learning to socialise - with a notable rise in social media use at the expense of face to face contact. Photograph: Getty
The pandemic robbed teenagers of the years they would have been learning to socialise - with a notable rise in social media use at the expense of face to face contact. Photograph: Getty

The teenage years are notoriously difficult – but for young people today the challenges are different from ever before and more worrying in their long-term impacts.

While the legacy of the pandemic with its enforced isolation, relentless screen usage, school closures and lack of socialisation has not been fully measured, adolescent psychotherapists such as Dr Colman Noctor have noticed definite and troubling trends among Irish teenagers.

With Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan he explores the rise of bullying, post pandemic isolation, the role of social media in teenage lives and what parents can do to help. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast