Yes, I said it. Have your teen take a break from social media. Teens are spending more and more time on social media, which is impacting their mental health. Your teen may not necessarily see this as a must, but as the parent, you may want to. Social media plays a big role in teen culture today. According to the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 90% of teens ages 13-17 have used social media. 75% report having at least one active social media profile, and 51% report visiting a social media site at least daily. 2/3 of teens have their own mobile devices with internet capabilities. On average, teens are online almost 9 hours a day, not including time for homework. Here are some pros and cons of social media to consider.
Potential benefits of social media include:
- Staying connected to friends and family
- Meeting new friends with shared interests
- Sharing their work (art, music, collections, dance, etc)
- Positive and inspirational people to follow
- Exploring and expressing themselves
Potential risks of social media include:
- Exposure to harmful or inappropriate content (e.g., sex, drugs, violence, etc.,)
- Exposure to dangerous people
- Cyberbullying is a risk factor for depression and suicide
- Oversharing personal matters
- Sleep
- Isolation
- Comparing themselves to others can lead to low self-esteem
Here are some strategic ways to have your teen get off their phone. Sometimes it’s easier if you make it a family thing
- No phone during dinner or events
- No phone after a certain time if it’s interfering with their sleep
- No phone for a limited amount of time daily
- Encourage them to try a new hobby
- Suggest they return to some old interest or hobbies
- Enroll them in sports or other activities
- Have family time with no phones
- Be an example as a parent