Teens and Social Media: Keeping it Healthy
Advice for Parents with Teenagers
In today’s digitally driven world, social media is everywhere. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are part of our daily lives as they connect us with friends, family, and people far away. They add much to our lives but also bring hazards and pitfalls, especially for adolescents.
If you’re a parent with teenagers in the house, you undoubtedly have concerns, and rightfully so. This article will explore practical strategies from our therapists to help your kids and teens engage with social media in an emotionally healthier and more beneficial way. The goal is to help you minimize potential negative impacts that can occur and affect mental and emotional well-being.
Understanding the Double-Edged Sword
Before we explore how to keep it healthy on social media, it’s essential to recognize and acknowledge its potential drawbacks. Studies show that excessive use can contribute to various mental health conditions.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loneliness
The carefully created “perfection” many people display in their social media feeds can lead anyone, and especially teenagers, to engage in unhealthy comparisons with others – and they can negatively affect self-esteem. Furthermore, the constant barrage of posts, pictures, and videos can be overwhelming, leading to information overload.
On the flip side, the same platforms can foster creativity, provide valuable information, and create community support. Thus, the key lies in how we engage with these spaces.
Gaining Healthy Control and Setting Boundaries
Start by helping your kids and teens decide how much time they spend on social media daily, which may vary. Perhaps they spend less time on school days and a bit more on the weekends. Many devices and apps now offer tools to track and limit usage, which helps manage online time.
One of the most effective ways to ensure a healthy relationship with social media is by setting clear boundaries.
It’s also helpful to schedule specific time slots for social media. It creates a structured approach to online engagement, reducing the likelihood of distraction and mindless scrolling that wastes time, often at the expense of studying or other important activities.
Curating Social Media Feeds Also Helps
Take the time to curate social media feeds by following accounts that uplift and inspire. Look for creators and organizations that promote positivity, creativity, and authenticity.
- The content we consume significantly affects our mental states.
Unfollow or mute accounts that consistently provide content that promotes negativity or bad feelings. Each of us has the right to fill our feeds with content that enhances life instead of detracting from it.
Your Teen May Benefit from a Digital Detox
Encouraging digital detoxes can benefit mental health if you’re trying to help your teen with social media. Taking a break from social media—whether it’s for a day, a weekend, or even longer—can provide more time for real-life connections and activities with family and friends.
A digital detox can help people of any age reconnect with the present moment and engage without the distraction of devices. While social media is great for maintaining connections, it shouldn’t replace genuine interactions. Building friendships in real life can help balance the relationships we cultivate online.
- Always encourage teens to reach out to friends and family through other means, such as phone calls, video chats, or face-to-face meet-ups. These interactions can foster deeper relationships and provide emotional support, often lacking in online exchanges.
- Additionally, encourage participation in after-school activities, sports, clubs, or community events that align with interests.
Mindfulness Helps with Social Media
Engaging with social media mindfully is always better for teens and their mental health. Mindfulness means being aware of feelings and emotions triggered by content. Some topics can cause stress or anxiety, so it is wise to limit exposure to those discussions.
- Practicing mindfulness in social media consumption can lead to an emotionally healthier outcome.
Encourage adolescents to pay attention to how certain posts make them feel and to reflect on whether those feelings are worth the engagement.
Recognizing When Your Teen Needs Help
If you notice that social media negatively impacts your child’s mental health and is more than you can help them resolve, it’s important to seek professional counseling.
Talking to our adolescent therapists can provide relief and support. It’s wise to reach out sooner rather than later, and we offer services at our Honolulu counseling center or by online telehealth appointment.
Healthy Use of Social Media for Teens
Social media, when used in moderation, can be informational and entertaining. By setting boundaries for your teen, suggesting care in curating feeds, and encouraging a healthy “offline” life, you can help them maintain healthy relationships with these platforms.
- It’s about quality over quantity; choosing to engage with care and boundaries can transform social media from a potential source of anxiety into a tool for connection and expression.
It’s crucial to remember that life is experienced in moments, not likes or shares. So, encourage adolescents to take a step back, breathe, and engage with the world—both online and offline—in ways that promote good mental health.
