The Parent Perspective : Balancing Act: Navigating the Impact of Social Media on Your Teen’s Mental Health

Dear Parents,

Research has determined that social media has both negative and positive impacts on a youth’s mental health. The United States Surgeon General stated: “Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media ‘almost constantly.’ “

Between the ages of ten to nineteen, an adolescent’s brain is in a stage of highly sensitive development, especially as far as risky behaviors being at a “peak.” Opinions of peers and social pressure put youth at high risk. Social media plays a large role in those pressures.

There are some benefits of social media for youth when used appropriately. One is the ability to connect adolescents with similar interests, identities, and abilities. Friendships can be formed online, and social connections can be developed.

On the other hand, research has shown that social media can also cause harm to young people. Teens aged twelve to fifteen that spend more than three hours a day using social media faced twice the risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Excessive use also causes less sleep, poor sleep quality, and depression.

So, what are some things that parents can do? One is to establish boundaries on the amount of time that youth are allowed to use electronic devices. Restricting it an hour before bedtime until the next day is beneficial. Devices should be prohibited at mealtime and conversation should be encouraged. Parents should model healthy habits for social media behavior and teach children age-appropriate behaviors for online technology.

Source of information:

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 2023

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

Sincerely

The SARA team