SYDNEY, Australia, July 12 -- SYDNEY, July 12 (UPI) -- As social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter become more popular with children and teens, writer and children's issues expert Maggie Dent worries about the consequences. Children today are out of touch with their "inner selves," she said, and spend too much time online and in non-creative activities.

“I see many young people nowadays plugged in, wired, and seldom alone with their own thoughts," she said. "These distractions will weaken young people's connection to their inner muse, that driving voice that gives birth to the best art, writing and music young people can produce."

If children spent more time on creative pursuits instead of online, said Dent, they'd be less likely to fall into depression. Dent is the author of "Saving our adolescents: Supporting today's adolescents through the bumpy ride to adulthood."

A recent study by researchers at Stony Brook University in New York found that online forums and chat sites can aggravate symptoms of depression. Over the course of a year, 13-year-old girls were found to become increasingly depressed and anxious when they participated in online chat sites allowing the girls to discuss issues over and over again. Cyberbullying makes the issue even worse, as the Internet becomes unsafe for troubled teens who constantly access social networking sites.

Dent, founder and director of Esteem Plus, a counseling center, said she noticed in 2002 that children and teens from normal, healthy homes were experiencing problems. That's when she decided to focus on the connection between creative activities, social media use and depression.

“Our children and adolescents are less resilient than previous generations," she said.

A recent presentation at Elderslie High School, located in Sydney's western suburbs, addressed the issue of such sites as Facebook and Twitter and the dangers they can have on a young person's self esteem.

"All students and young people around the age of 15 and 16 are more vulnerable, being unsure of their self-image and levels of confidence," said Maurice Russell, a school adviser. "Using Facebook and other sites as an escape from the pressures of being a teenager, students often find themselves harassed outside of school, causing issues of depression to become even worse."

But in some circumstances, the use of social networking sites can help bring young people closer together. Students who worked on group presentations at Elderslie High School used Facebook to collaborate outside of school hours.

"Thank God for Facebook!" one student wrote in the presentation summary. Another student said the team wouldn't have been able to finish the assignment without help from social media.

But when Facebook isolates young people, making them feel depressed and addicted to social networking, the remedy is to log off. Depression can be fought by focusing on what makes a person unique, such as writing, painting, music and other hobbies, Dent said.

“I have been a huge advocate for years of teaching children, teens and adults how to be still and quiet so they can hear their own voice of wisdom," she said. "This is where all creative people find their inspiration and their own voice."

Many who speak to children in classrooms fail to get the message across when it comes to depression and suicide, Dent said. They have "amazing wisdom," Dent said, but little practical knowledge about how to communicate with children.

“Unfortunately, many of these became the faceless bureaucrats who make decisions of what happens in our schools and communities," says Dent.

Parents should teach their children to be creative and express themselves positively, Dent said. Parents who tell children that their problems are in their heads can cause self-esteem damage and push children online, Dent said.

“I have worked with so many teens who have wanted to ‘Leave our planet,' cut and hurt themselves," Dent said. "I feel that with more loving, genuine care this would not happen."