Clinical Contributor to this story:
Jessica Yao, M.D.
Community First Chief Medical Officer
Teens are spending almost 5 hours a day on social media.
So, how is social media use affecting your child’s mental health and overall well-being? It’s an important question to ask, and the answer isn’t straightforward. Social media can be a great way to learn and connect with others, but it also comes with risks. Here’s what health experts have to say.
Dangers of Social Media
Social media can affect mental health in many ways, especially teens and children. Some of the more common risks include:
Bullying
Hurtful comments online, cyberbullying.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Feeling left out when friends do fun things together and post about it.
Body Image Issues
Images of seemingly perfect faces and bodies, often using filters and photo editing, promote unrealistic beauty standards and can lead to body image issues, especially in girls.
Hate Speech
Exposure to harmful or offensive content. It is becoming more common for children and teens to see or hear something negative or violent pop up on their feeds.
Stress/Anxiety
Social media can add to kids’ worries, and it can be a source of anxiety due to all of the factors listed here.
Bad Sleep Habits
Social media can be a source of sleep deprivation. Many teens stay up late scrolling or chatting with friends.
Addiction/Distraction
Social media is designed to keep users hooked. When you get likes, comments, or shares, it can become a source of good or bad feelings. It’s easy to fall into the habit of consuming content, scrolling for hours at a time, or constantly checking in.
Social media algorithms can make these issues worse by filtering content so that teens see more and more of the same content based on the things they “like” and the people they follow.
Benefits of Social Media
Social media can also benefit kids and teens. It’s a great way to connect with friends and can be a lifeline for some and just fun for others. Here are some of the ways that social media can benefit youth:
Sense of Connection
Social media can be excellent for finding people with similar interests, backgrounds, or challenges. It allows people to connect and communicate when they are not physically together and can help them fight off feelings of loneliness.
Learning Opportunities
Access to study guides, educational content, and cultural awareness.
Safe Spaces
For more vulnerable kids and teens, such as LGBTQ+ youth and those from lower socio- economic/marginalized/rural communities, social media can be a safe space where they can talk freely, ask questions, and seek support, resources, and information.
Creative Inspiration
Social media is a wonderful way to explore the arts (literary, visual, musical) and other creative pursuits, as an admirer or for inspiration. There is so much creative content online, including how-to videos, and that can light a creative spark.
Tips for Healthy Social Media Use
Parents can take these steps to make their social media use a safer, more positive experience:
- Set Limits: Clear rules make a big difference. Decide together how much and how often your child can use their devices, which sites and apps they can use, and when it is appropriate to use the camera.
- Have Tech-Free Zones: Whether at the dinner table, in the classroom, or when getting ready for bed, agree on where it’s okay to be on social media and where and when it is not.
- Talk About Social Media and What They Do Online: Discuss what your child sees online and how it makes them feel. Talk openly and let them know they can share things with you without punishment.
- Give Alternatives to Screen Time: Schedule time for kids and teens to read, go outside, move their bodies (through dance, sports, or another exercise), and do something creative: draw/paint/build/write, bake, do puzzles, go through old photo albums or volunteer.
- Be a Role Model: Put down your own phone and respect the tech-free zones you’ve set for your child. Try to keep your screen time (outside of work) to just 1 to 2 hours a day.
- Turn off Notifications: This is a simple fix that can help with the addictive nature of social media or the pressure to check it or reply immediately.
- Talk About Cyberbullying and How to Handle It: Tell kids and teens that they can come to you if being bullied themselves or seeing someone else go through it. Teach them to be kind and respect others online. Make sure they know how to unfollow, unfriend, block, or report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, or anxious. Let them know it’s important to protect their mental health.
- Teach Kids and Teens About Online Predators: It is important they understand that not everything they see online is true. Strangers can hide behind screens and lie about who they are. Make sure they know never to meet up with someone they’ve only talked to online. Remind them that some people use the internet to manipulate and deceive, pretending to be someone they are not.
- Use the Internet to Research the Topic: Use these tools recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General for more tips.
When to Get Help
If a child’s social media use leads to any of the following, they may need to see a mental health professional:
- Mood Changes: Feeling more anxious, sad, or angry.
- Sleep Issues: Staying up late to scroll.
- Missed Responsibilities: Not doing homework or chores.
- Acting Dependent/Addicted: Not wanting to put their screens away, even for short periods.
Mental Health Support for Community First Members
Community First offers several resources for Members of all ages in need of mental health support. Members do not need a referral for mental health or substance use services.
Counseling/Therapy
Community First offers access to many contracted outpatient mental health professionals. You can search for a mental health provider by using our online directory or call Member Services at the number listed on your Member ID card for help making an appointment. If you have a Case Manager or Service Coordinator, you can also contact them directly.
Community First Health & Wellness Programs
Community First Members can join our focused Health & Wellness Program, Healthy Mind: Behavioral Health Program, at no cost, for help finding the right mental health professional and for other help and resources.
Behavioral Health & Substance Use Support Lines
Community First Members can also call our toll-free Behavioral Health & Substance Use Support Line, available 24 hours a day/7 days a week:
| Star Kids/STAR PLUS Members | All Other Health Plan Members | 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline |
| 1-844-541-2347 | 1-877-221-2226 | 988 |
With guidance, everyone can enjoy the benefits of social media while reducing the risks. Let’s work together to make social media safer, healthier, and more uplifting for all!
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