Fostering Healthy Social Media Use in Adolescent
by Liz Melfi – IU School School Psychology PhD Student
How are adolescents using social media?
Approximately 95% of adolescents report using social media. The most popular social media platforms among this age group include YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. While the term social media implies interactions with others, using social media is not always a social activity. Active social media use involves connecting with others (e.g., sending a direct message, sharing a photo), whereas passive social media use involves viewing the online profiles of others without directly engaging with them (e.g., scrolling through photo feeds, watching videos).
What are some of the negative effects of social media?
Social media can negatively impact one’s psychological and physical wellbeing. Psychologically, social media is often used as a “highlight reel” to showcase positive moments, and passively viewing this content from others can lead to jealousy, body image concerns, and reduced self-esteem. Active social media use can also inflict psychological harm—for instance, in the case of cyberbullying that leads to depressive symptoms and anxiety. Social media use during adolescence can even lead to addiction, as adolescent brains have an elevated desire to obtain peer attention and a limited capacity to exert self-control. Such an addiction to social media can then foster physical challenges, such as sleep disturbance, neck strain, headaches, and reduced physical activity.
Can social media be good?
Yes! Although much of the attention surrounding social media use among adolescents focuses on the negatives, social media can be beneficial. For instance, actively engaging with others through social media can provide adolescents with social support and connect them to online communities related to their interests and identities. Additionally, social media can serve as an outlet through which adolescents can express themselves and be creative. Even passively viewing social media can be beneficial at times, such as when adolescents are learning from the content they are viewing.
Where do we go from here?
- Talk to your child about social media. Check in with your child about the ways in which they are using social media. Initiate conversations about the pros and cons of social media in regards to wellbeing. By proactively having these discussions, you can stay in the loop about your child’s online activity and encourage your child to reflect upon their own social media use, too.
- Connect with your child online. Following your child’s accounts can allow you to monitor their social media behaviors and intervene if any issues arise. Additionally, by connecting with your child online, you can model healthy social media use for them.
- Promote moderation. Because adolescents are especially vulnerable to developing an addiction to social media, setting limits can be very important. Try setting limits based upon the amount of time spent on social media or based upon the hours of the day. Additionally, encourage your child to pursue other activities, such as hanging out with friends or spending time outside.
- Be understanding. Social media may already be a source of stress for your child, and implementing further restrictions may initially add to that stress. When implementing any new rules concerning social media, remind your child that they are only there to keep them safe and to help them make the most of their time spent on social media.
