Teens On Social Media Too Much? What Experts Want You to Know

By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Jan. 13, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Is your teen watching their smartphone all day? There’s many issues mother and father can do to guard children from the possibly detrimental results of social media, specialists say.

While there are constructive points to social media, there’s proof it could possibly pose dangers to teenagers’ psychological well being attributable to points reminiscent of bullying, physique picture considerations and different social pressures.

“The actuality is that social media is a part of the world we stay in, and it is not going away,” stated Mari Radzik, a medical psychologist within the division of adolescent and younger grownup medication at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“We cannot simply take away our children’ telephones or computer systems. It’s about determining how we will information them on utilizing and navigating these instruments,” Radzik stated in a hospital information launch.

Some indicators of social media-related issues in teenagers embrace adjustments in temper, consuming and sleep habits, in addition to isolating of their room. In such instances, mother and father may need to start a dialogue about their teen’s social media use through the use of “I” as an alternative of “you” statements, Radzik urged.

Instead of claiming, “You’re on Instagram means an excessive amount of and that is dangerous for you,” strive, “I seen this and I’m actually anxious. Can we discuss it?” If your teen would not need to speak at that second, allow them to know you may be there after they really feel prepared.

“Berating will make a youngster shut down,” Radzik stated. “Or generally mother and father will dig by way of their kid’s social media accounts and that may really feel invasive. The strategy has to come back from a spot of caring and concern, somewhat than one thing punitive or accusatory.”

Parents ought to test in continuously and take note of their teenagers’ media use, stated Sarah Voyer, lead social employee within the division of psychiatry at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Parents might need to ask their teenagers how they use social media — do they share updates with their buddies, comply with sure celebrities or influencers, or are they in search of some type of recommendation or assist — and the way they really feel after they use it, Voyer stated.

If you are sure that social media is affecting your teen’s psychological well being, recommend they take a break and even delete their account.

“There are some children who can break the cycle, and generally it takes the mother or father to assist with that,” Radzik stated.

Before a baby begins to make use of social media, mother and father ought to set parameters, in accordance with Radzik.

“It could be problematic when kids are given common entry to cellphones at an early age,” she stated. “I perceive the necessity to use it at occasions, particularly age-appropriate materials. But as mother and father we have to encourage a curiosity of the world round them and use creativity instruments somewhat than depend on social media on a regular basis.”

More data

For extra on kids and media, see the American Academy of Pediatrics.

SOURCE: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, information launch, Jan. 10, 2022