Navigating the Social Media Storm: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Teen Mental Health
Recent news has brought focus once again to the use of Smart Phones in teenagers with social media giants such as TikTok and Meta in court giving evidence to the US Senate, accused of not doing enough to protect young users from harm. Here in the UK Brianna Ghey’s mother has called for a ban on smartphones for under 16’s. There have also been reports of some schools banning smartphones on school premises. I think it’s a question many parents have; “Is social media harming my child? And what can I do about it?”.
Unpacking the complex relationship between social media and young people’s mental health
The evidence to date has shown a relationship between social media use and an apparent decline in young people’s mental health at around the same time that social media became mainstream. However, whilst there is clearly an association it has been difficult to prove that social media is the cause of this. Indeed, social media can be a positive tool – it can raise awareness of conditions, reduce the stigma of mental health and signpost to helpful resources. It is the way most young people communicate with their friends and therefore helps them to feel connected. There are also several negatives. Whilst many parents worry about on-line exploitation and screen time, most of the risks to young people come from misinformation, cyber bullying and a deterioration with their self-image We also have to remember that social media was designed with the same psychology as the design of slot machines and engages the user in a way which keeps them online. This can distract focus and sleep (the average teen gets 227 notifications a day) and can affect sleep contributing to further sleep deprivation which is seen in a lot of young people.
The impact of social media content on adolescent development
It therefore seems that it is the content a teenager is exposed to that is the biggest cause of concern rather than time spent. Adolescence is an important developmental period and therefore what an adolescence is exposed to during this time has a huge influence on the development of their adult self. During this vulnerable period, a constant stream of images chosen by algorithms that make you feel bad about yourself or shift your bias into thinking that there is nothing positive happening, will shape your view of yourself and your view of the world, well into adulthood. It has become clear that regulation of content has not been at the top of social media companies’ priorities. Instead, these platforms are designed to give you a dopamine hit every time you get a ‘like’ leaving you wanting more. I have lost count of the number of times I have had, or heard about, a conversation with a young person who has been very upset about not getting a certain number of likes.
Effective strategies for supporting young people
My personal feeling is that simply banning smart phones for under 16s won’t work and instead will lead to increasing tension amongst young people. In an ideal world I think it would be great if the social media companies made simple adjustments which would reduce stress amongst young people, such as being able to view others scores or likes, but in the unlikely event that this will happen there are steps that you, as a parent, can do to support your teenager. These include:
- Turning off the notifications on their phones. Talk through the benefits of this and agree that they are happy for this to happen.
- Keep phones out of their bedrooms at night. Consider setting up a charging station down in the kitchen where all phones are placed at bedtime.
- Ensuring that there is an hour of down time before bed, where no phones are used. Discuss the benefits of reading or listening to music for example.
- Talk to your young person about how social media and phone use makes them feel. You might be surprised about how they really feel about it, which makes the above 3 strategies more easier to implement.
- Lastly, but certainly not least, look at your own use of your phone. We talk about modelling what we want to see in our children so this could be a good opportunity to reclaim some of your time back and consider if you would benefit from any of the above strategies too.
Remember, as we navigate the complexities of social media and technology, it is important to prioritise open communication, understanding, and support for our young people. Together, we can empower them to navigate the digital world with resilience and confidence.
We would love to hear your thoughts. Let us know if you have any other tips or your own thoughts on this matter which are always welcome.
Dr Louise Randall.
P.S. We highly recommend an award-winning podcast for parents of teens and tweens by Rachel Richards and Susie Asli, ‘Parenting Teenagers Untangled’ on Apple, and in particular Podcast No.49 – Snapchat Addiction. It is a useful resource for any parent interested in listening to a balanced discussion around this issue.