Negative effects of social media on teenagers

According to psychiatry experts, social media use can negatively affect the mental and physical health of teens:

• Body image concerns
  Teens tend to compare themselves to others on social media. In one study, female young adults reported a negative mood and increased desire to change their appearance after spending time on Facebook.
• Increased risk of cyberbullying
  The disconnected nature of social media interactions can nurture negative commenting and cyberbullying. Teenagers who experience cyberbullying report an increase in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
• Decreased academic performance
  Teens may be more sensitive to negative impacts from “media multitasking,” potentially reducing attention spans and cognitive performance.
• Insufficient or disrupted sleep
  Smartphone use before bedtime may reduce quantity and quality of sleep and increase tiredness during the daytime. Even the presence of smartphones in the bedroom can disrupt sleep, possibly due to the temptation to check the nearby device.
• Decreased self-esteem
  Social media popularity measures, such as number of likes and friends, can contribute to negative feelings of self-esteem.
• Underdeveloped social skills
  When the majority of a teen’s communication occurs through phones or social media, they do not learn many of the social skills acquired from in-person conversations, such as understanding body language and verbal cues. This may lead to anxiety or avoidance of social situations.

Adolescent counselors at Elk River Treatment Program agree but stress that allowing a young person to hide behind the screen of their smartphone in order to avoid negative feelings leads to more embedded behaviors with time. If your child’s behavior suddenly becomes hostile, reclusive or erratic, start a dialogue that is nonconfrontational and ease into subjects that may be difficult for both of you. Elk River Treatment Program recommends “How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlist as a helpful resource for parents.

Benefits of social media on teenagers

Social media can be a strong source of social support and community when used intentionally. Teens who maintain a strong commitment to in-person socializing are not as vulnerable to the negative impacts of social media.

What can parents do to reduce the negative impact of social media on teenagers?

There are several simple ways you can help your teen establish a healthy relationship with social media and their smartphone.

• Model healthy smartphone
  use Limit your family’s social media use to one to two hours a day, preferably only for set times and in common areas in the home.
• Reduce phone use before bedtime
  Use a designated alarm clock to avoid sleeping next to your phone. Set your phone in a different room overnight, and try not to use your phone one to two hours before bedtime to allow your mind to decompress.
• Communicate the risks of social media
  Discuss the harmful effects of social media, including body image concerns, decreased self-esteem, the risk of cyberbullying, and sleep disruption, with your teen and family.
• Discuss alternative ways of connecting
  Help reduce your teen’s social media and screen time by encouraging them to connect with friends in person or on the phone.
• Enlist assistance
  Parenting “takes a village,” and studies support a community approach: open, nonjudgmental therapeutic alliances are generally the most effective way to communicate with teens. If your teen is struggling to set healthy boundaries with smart phone and social media use, there may be a deeper cause. Clinical allies that specialize in adolescent treatment, such as the Elk River Treatment Program, can help.