Navigating Conversations About Social Media with Teens
This post on Social Media and Teens is written by Kyla Cassidy, BA.
Social media has risen to the forefront in our society, serving as a powerful avenue for connection. The outside world is all at the touch of their fingertips.
A variety of platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok allow for the fostering of online relationships and communities. The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends parent involvement in adolescent social media usage, most notably for adolescents between the ages of 10-14. Adolescents may be susceptible to increased feelings of anxiety and depression due to internet usage. With this, it is important to prioritize discussing social media with adolescents, however these conversations can be difficult to navigate.
Below are five tips to help you navigate a conversation with your teens on their social media use:
Prioritize Open-Ended Communication
It is important for teens to communicate their online experiences with a trusted individual. Online experiences can be both positive and negative. Without an outlet to communicate these experiences, teens can begin to internalize, leading to poor self-esteem. Through positive facilitative conversations, teens can begin to develop their own understanding of what social media means to them and how best to interact with a variety of platforms.
Set Boundaries
Emphasizing the importance of boundary setting is critical. Over-consuming online media consumption can be harmful for teens if overdone. Parent’s instilling screen-time rules may be impactful in setting boundaries. It is important to prioritize your child and utilize a “what works best?” approach when establishing social media usage boundaries. There is no one size fits all, golden rule. It is crucial to reduce internet usage for your teen if you notice your teen is experiencing negative impacts.
The American Psychological Association (APA) provides parents with guidelines when determining boundaries. A teen’s social media usage should not interfere with a teen’s sleep cycle or their physical activity. If you notice your teen prioritizing time on their phones rather than sleep or physical activity, it might be time to discuss boundaries with them.
Understand “The Highlight Reel”
Social media is typically people’s “highlight reel.” It is important for teens to recognize that posts on the internet may not be entirely factual. Teen’s may often engage in comparison tendencies, comparing oneself to others through a particular post. Consequently, teen’s self-esteem can be negatively impacted. Through empowering conversations, teens can develop the understanding of the false reality created by social media.
Not all information is created equal
Social media can be a great tool for acquiring information, however not all information is accurate. It is important to discuss with teens this reality, instilling the motto “take it with a grain of salt.” A lot of information on social media is simply not true. Talking with teens about prioritizing viewing reputable accounts when consuming current events is crucial. Additionally, instilling teens with the awareness that individuals may hold contrasting viewpoints, and this is okay!
Consider heightened privacy settings
The internet can be a scary place. With that, every post or interaction on social media should be carefully thought out. Teens may experience regret for a particular interaction or post they author. Discussing with teens about how interacting on the internet can be referenced by others in the future is critical. Teens may benefit from privacy settings, allowing for more control over their posts and who can view it.
In summary, the above strategies are beneficial as initial first steps in navigating these difficult conversations. As a result, current research details a parental approach of instilling internet boundaries, while incorporating communication leads to optimal youth outcomes. The internet can be overpowering and begin to impact your teen. Through these conversations, the hope is to instill a positive relationship with social media for teens.
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