Is Social Media a Menace To Your Teen’s Mental Health? What To Do Now

Teens and social media go hand-in-hand. Today, most teenagers aren’t just casually scrolling through Facebook. In fact, they’re inundated with several apps that require constant attention. From Instagram to TikTok, keeping up with social media can feel like a full-time job for anyone. 

It’s not all bad, of course. Social media is a great way for teens to stay connected with their friends, make plans, chat, and so much more. 

But, it doesn’t come without risks – and potential concerns. 

Studies have shown that teens who use social media more often can experience everything from trouble sleeping at night to mental health issues like anxiety or depression. They can start to feel moody, and the impact might even impact their schoolwork as they struggle to focus and concentrate on the things they’re supposed to do. 

It’s first important to understand why social media could be wreaking havoc on your teen. From there, we’ll talk about what you can do about it. 

The Problem With Social Media

Again, social media doesn’t have to be a bad thing. For connection purposes, it’s a great resource. But, using it too often comes with risks and potentially damaging problems. 

First, there is the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). This is something that plagues adults too! But, as a teenager, feeling left out from groups can cause more anxiety and stress. It’s a crucial time of life when relationships tend to mean “everything.” When they see their friends spending time together without them, it can have adverse effects. 

There’s the “highlight reel” aspect of social media, too. Teenagers might not understand as well as adults that most things posted on social media aren’t real. Many times, filters are being used on pictures. Captions are carefully curated. People want to share the “perfect moment” without talking about the chaotic or stressful moments surrounding it. 

That can impact a teenager’s self-esteem and even their sense of self-worth. It can lead to struggles with depression, or even anxiety if they feel like they don’t fit in or “aren’t good enough”. 

What Can You Do?

Social media is a force that is here to stay. It’s next to impossible to keep teenagers away from it. So, what can you do if you see your teen struggling because of it? Or, how can you talk to them if you’re worried about it becoming a menace in their world? 

That’s actually the first thing you should do – talk to them. Remain in an open conversation with your teen about social media. That includes how much they’re using it, how they feel about it, and any areas causing them extra stress. If you have a teenager, you already know they’re not always up for lengthy conversations. So, be open to talking about social media any time, even in bits and pieces. 

If you see your teen struggling, address their concerns and validate their feelings. But, remember, they’re still “kids”. If they’re having a hard time with the effects of social media, they might need your help. As the parent, you might need to initiate more conversations, suggest some limits, and try to hear your teen’s feelings and concerns about it too.

It’s important that teenagers learn how to decipher and understand the misconceptions of social media.  That isn’t an easy thing to do at such a young age. If you worry that your teen needs some extra support around social media and life in general, teen counseling might be the solution. If you feel you could use more support yourself, or you’d like some help figuring out how to talk with your teen, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Photo by Rob Hampson on Unsplash