Does Social Media Affect Mental Health? Tips for Parents

Many of us remember our parents worrying about TV "rotting" our brains in childhood as we sat in front of Saturday morning cartoons. The world that we are currently navigating for our own children is an expanded media world, a variety of social media apps that are designed to promote social media addiction, and a society that values aesthetics over almost everything else.

So what can a parent do to protect youth mental health in this new world? Kids access social media platforms from home, school, and when they're with their friends, leading to a flood of potentially unhealthy ideas and disinformation. In this article, we'll examine some of the tactics parents and other caregivers can use to create a healthy relationship with social media platforms and balance online social interactions with real-life experience.

Understanding the Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Social media is a tool, and it can have both positive and negative effects on mental health, depending on how it is used.

Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, and provide comfort and joy. Kids who feel isolated in rural areas that may not have a lot of people that are like them can find interaction with groups that allow them to express themselves.

Lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to mental and emotional health, and online relationships can be a way to maintain social connection. However, social media can never be a replacement for real-world human connection.

The Benefits and Risks of Social Media Use

On the pro side, social media can provide access to information and a safe place to express oneself. Many teens find a community online that helps them through difficult times. Working as a sort of support group finder, social media can facilitate connections with peers who share interests, identities, and abilities.

On the other hand, excessive social media use has been linked to depression, anxiety symptoms, and poor mental health outcomes. Cyber bullying is common, and teens and young adults who have a social media addiction may find themselves constantly comparing themselves to others, feeling left out when they see other groups of friends hanging out, and generally doom scrolling.

Signs of Unhealthy Social Media Use

As a parent, it's important to be able to spot when your child is accessing social media in a way that is unhealthy. Here are some signs that your kid's social media usage is higher than is good for their mental health.

• Spending more time on social media than with real-world friends.
• Comparing themselves unfavorably with others.
• Experiencing cyberbullying over social media.
• Being distracted at school or work by social media apps.
• Having no time for self-reflection.
• Engaging in risky behavior.
• Suffering from sleep problems.
• Worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Promoting Healthy Social Media Habits

Parents can work with their children to create healthy digital habits and encourage moderation in social media use. Discussing the negative effects of social media with children and teens can help manage these effects. We can't just assume that they understand how social media can affect mental health; we must educate them on media literacy.

Parents can model healthy social media use and discuss social media citizenship behaviors with their children. Encourage teens to take breaks from social media and engage in offline activities. Have family dinners and plan family activities in which social media plays no part.

Creating a Healthy Social Media Environment

In addition to maintaining healthy and open communication with your child, set rules and limits on social media use. Explain why you are doing this, why it is important, and how it benefits them. Don't just use "because I said so." Share the Surgeon General's advisory on social media use, along with the social media research from the Pew Research Center. Share facts and figures, and let them know that you are monitoring social media use out of concern for their well-being.

Monitor your teen’s accounts, and you can gradually reduce monitoring as they get older. Continue to have regular talks with your teen about social media and encourage them to let you know if something online worries or bothers them. Most importantly, set an example by following the same rules yourself.

Teaching Teens to Use Social Media Responsibly

Teach social media literacy to help maximize the chances of having balanced, safe, and meaningful experiences on social media platforms. Share statistics about how social media can affect mental health and relationships. The Pew Research Center has published research papers on social media effects on mental health in teens and young adults.

Encourage teens to think critically about the content they consume and create online. Discuss the potential risks and consequences of social media use, such as cyberbullying and online harassment, and promote an environment that encourages them to openly discuss any mental health concerns they may have with you.

Recognizing Mental Health Issues Related to Social Media

Be aware of the signs of the effects on adolescent health related to social media screen time, such as increased anxiety, depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, poor body image, and sleep problems such as poor sleep quality.

Monitor your teen’s mental health and seek help if you notice any changes in their behavior or mood. Keep an open dialogue with your kids, and encourage teens to seek help if they are struggling with mental health problems related to social media use.

Seeking Help for Mental Health Issues Related to Social Media

If you suspect that your teen is struggling with mental health challenges related to social media use, seek help from a mental health professional. In addition, encourage teens to talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, or school counselor, about any mental health concerns.

Provide resources and support for teens who are struggling with mental health challenges related to social media use. Social media affects teens in a number of ways, and frequent social media use can be problematic. Another issue is that many social media platforms are designed to create addiction, triggering our brain's reward center, and developing brains are even more susceptible to social media.

Promoting Healthy Social Media Use in Brooklyn

For those who notice that their kids constantly check social media, there is help. You can raise awareness of the problems it can cause, and in older kids and teens even share the clinical psychological science behind social media use. If your child's social media addiction feels out of hand, you can seek professional help.

At Williamsburg Therapy Group, our team of doctoral-level Brooklyn child psychotherapists offers a number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to talk therapy that offer the tools necessary for creating a healthy environment for your teen's social media use, improving self-esteem, managing stress, and learning healthy coping skills to address any mental health challenges that may be contributing.

With appropriate boundaries, social media can be a useful and beneficial tool. If you are having trouble helping your teen achieve balanced social media use, call our service coordinator to be matched with a therapist that can offer social support, treat any underlying mental health condition that may be contributing, facilitate and promote healthy social media habits, and in general improve the mental health and well-being of your teen.