Navigating Social Media: A Guide for Parents
Written By: Julia Rumb, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program
PEOPLE HAVE REALIZEDmore than ever that social media is a big part of a teenagers’ life. However,
social networks can be useful as they foster connection and belonging, while at the same time it
presents specific dangers to mental health, body image, and self-esteem.
There are positive attributes of social media, such as the chance of being connected with friends and family, especially during hard moments. It can also provide mental health platforms or groups which can encourage positive interaction and give support to other teens. Although, some social media applications present idolized and fake versions of life that can cause teens to feel lonely or inadequate. It has been established that being subjected to superficial images made available by social networks causes an increase in body dissatisfaction and depression (Tiggemann & Slater, 2014). Furthermore, being anonymous online heightens the potential for negative interactions to occur, which consequently causes reduced self esteem and increased anxiety (Kowalski et al., 2014).
Teens should be cautious when using social media as it can negatively affect their mental health. Studies conducted in the year 2017 found out that excessive use of social media is related to a rise of symptoms of depression and anxiety (Twenge, 2017). In addition, there are other studies cited in the American Psychological Association (APA) health advisory that suggest teens who use social media as comparisons or feedback in relation to their physical appearance are connected to a poorer body image, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms, particularly amongst girls (APA, 2023). Research also supports that the number of likes and comments one gets on their social media posts greatly impacts adolescents’ self-esteem. Many teens report feelings of invalidation and incompetence due to basing their own value on the engagements they receive from being online (Miller et al., 2020). If teens are gaining validation through how many likes and comments they get, their self-worth begins to decline when they do not receive their desired amount of engagement. It is important to educate your adolescent on these findings to mitigate the dangers and risks of social media.
So, what can parents do to help lessen these risks? Parents can monitor their adolescent’s social media use such as reviewing, discussing, and coaching their child around what social media content is appropriate and what content can be more dangerous to their mental health (APA, 2023). Additionally, educating your child about the positives and negatives of social media is essential. From ages 10-14 years old, adults should monitor their teen’s social media usage more closely, and as the teen gets older they can gain more digital literacy skills and be aware of these risks discussed above (APA, 2023). Creating transparency and boundaries surrounding how
much time they spend on social media and what content they are viewing can help create awareness and reduce risks such as low self-esteem, body image issues, anxiety and depression. Encouraging your teen to view content that promotes self-acceptance, body positivity, and diversity can empower them to see beyond superficial appearances and posts.
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References
Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073–1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035618
Lee, H. Y., Jamieson, J. P., Reis, H. T., Beevers, C. G., Josephs, R. A., Mullarkey, M. C., O’Brien, J. M., & Yeager, D. S. (2020). Getting Fewer “Likes” Than Others on Social Media Elicits Emotional Distress Among Victimized Adolescents. Child Development, 91(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13422
Livingstone, S. (2017). iGen: why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy – and completely unprepared for adulthood. Journal of Children and Media, 12(1), 118–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2017.1417091
Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2014). NetTweens: The Internet and Body Image Concerns in Preteenage Girls. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 34(5), 606–620. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431613501083
Weir, K. (2023, September 1). Social Media Brings Benefits and Risks to teens. Here’s How Psychology Can Help Identify a Path Forward. American Psychological Association; American Psychological Association.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/09/protecting-teens-on-social-media