Social Media

SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media has both benefits and risks for youth, and understanding these
can help guide healthier usage. Let’s explore both sides:
1. Benefits of Social Media for Youth:
o Social Support and Connection: Social media platforms allow teens to

connect with friends, family, and peers. They can find emotional support,
share experiences, and maintain relationships.
o Learning Opportunities: Social media provides access to information,

educational content, and news. It can be a valuable resource for learning
about various topics.
o Creativity and Expression: Teens can express themselves through posts,

photos, videos, and creative content. This fosters self-expression and boosts
confidence.
o Community Building: Social media allows teens to join groups, communities,

and causes they care about, fostering a sense of belonging.
2. Risks and Challenges:

o Mental Health Impact: Excessive social media use has been
associated with negative mental health outcomes, especially
during adolescence. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and
feelings of inadequacy.
o Cyberbullying: Online harassment and cyberbullying are
prevalent on social media platforms. Teens may face hurtful
comments, exclusion, or even threats.
o Privacy Concerns: Sharing personal information online can
lead to privacy breaches. Teens need to be cautious about
what they post and who they interact with.
o Comparison and FOMO: Constant exposure to curated
content can lead to unrealistic comparisons and fear of
missing out (FOMO).
3. Guidelines for Safer Social Media Use:
o Encourage teens to use functions that promote social
support, companionship, and emotional intimacy1.
o Set boundaries: Limit screen time and encourage offline
activities.
o Educate about privacy settings and safe online behavior.
o Monitor for signs of distress and provide emotional support.
Remember, while social media has its merits, balance and awareness are
crucial for healthy usage.
Certainly! Here are some ways parents can support their
teens in navigating social media:
1. Open Communication: Encourage open conversations about
social media. Discuss its benefits and risks, and listen to your
teen’s experiences and concerns.
2. Set Clear Boundaries: Establish guidelines for screen time,

appropriate content, and privacy settings. Help your teen
understand the importance of balance.
3. Model Healthy Behavior: Be a positive role model.

Demonstrate responsible social media use by respecting
privacy, avoiding excessive screen time, and being kind online.
4. Educate About Privacy: Teach your teen about privacy settings,

the risks of sharing personal information, and the permanence
of online posts.
5. Monitor Activity: Keep an eye on your teen’s social media

activity without invading their privacy. Know their friends and
followers, and be aware of any signs of cyberbullying or
distress.
6. Promote Critical Thinking: Encourage your teen to question

content, fact-check information, and think critically about what
they see online.
7. Emphasize Kindness: Discuss the impact of words and actions

online. Encourage empathy, kindness, and respectful
communication.
Social media brings benefits
and risks to teens.
Psychology can help identify
a path forward
New psychological research exposes the harms and
positive outcomes of social media. APA’s
recommendations aim to add science-backed balance to
the discussion
This was the year that social media itself went viral—and not in a good way.
In March, President Joe Biden threatened to ban the Chinese-owned video-
sharing site TikTok. In April, a bipartisan group of senators introduced
legislation to ban kids under 13 from joining social media. In May, the U.S.
surgeon general issued an advisory urging action to protect children online
(Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory,
2023). Just days earlier, APA issued its first-ever health advisory, providing
recommendations to protect youth from the risks of social media (Health
Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence, 2023).
As youth mental health continues to suffer, parents, teachers, and legislators

are sounding the alarm on social media. But fear and misinformation often
go hand in hand. APA’s recommendations aim to add science-backed balance
to the discussion. “There’s such a negative conversation happening around
social media, and there is good reason for that. However, it’s important to
realize there can be benefits for many teens,” said Jacqueline Nesi, PhD, an
assistant professor of psychology at Brown University who studies
technology use in youth, and a member of the APA panel that produced the
health advisory. “Teens (and adults) obviously get something out of social
media. We have to take a balanced view if we want to reach teens and help
them use these platforms in healthier ways.”
[Related: What parents should know to keep their teens safe on social media]
In 2023, an estimated 4.9 billion people worldwide are expected to use social
media. For teens who grew up with technology, those digital platforms are
woven into the fabric of their lives. “Social media is here to stay,” said Mary
Alvord, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Maryland and adjunct professor at
George Washington University, and a member of the APA panel. That doesn’t
mean we have to accept its dangers, however. “Just as we decide when kids
are old enough to drive, and we teach them to be good drivers, we can
establish guidelines and teach children to use social media safely,” Alvord
said.
Social media charms and harms
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide in young people were
climbing. In 2021, more than 40% of high school students reported depressive symptoms, with girls
and LGBTQ+ youth reporting even higher rates of poor mental health and suicidal thoughts,
according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (American Economic
Review, Vol. 112, No. 11, 2022).
Young people may be particularly vulnerable to social media’s charms—as well as its harms. During
adolescent development, brain regions associated with the desire for attention, feedback, and
reinforcement from peers become more sensitive. Meanwhile, the brain regions involved in self-
control have not fully matured. That can be a recipe for disaster. “The need to prioritize peers is a
normal part of adolescent development, and youth are turning to social media for some of that
longed-for peer contact,” said clinical psychologist Mary Ann McCabe, PhD, ABPP, a member-at-large
of APA’s Board of Directors, adjunct associate professor of pediatrics at George Washington
University School of Medicine, and cochair of the expert advisory panel. “The original yearning is
social, but kids can accidentally wander into harmful content.”
[Related: Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects
youth]
The potential risks of social media may be especially acute during early adolescence when puberty
delivers an onslaught of biological, psychological, and social changes. One longitudinal analysis of
data from youth in the United Kingdom found distinct developmental windows during which
adolescents are especially sensitive to social media’s impact. During those windows—around 11 to
13 for girls and 14 to 15 for boys—more social media use predicts a decrease in life satisfaction a
year later, while lower use predicts greater life satisfaction (Orben, A., et al., Nature
Communications, Vol. 13, No. 1649, 2022).
One takeaway from such research is that adults should monitor kids’ social media use closely in early
adolescence, between the ages of 10 and 14 or so. As kids become more mature and develop digital
literacy skills, they can earn more autonomy.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

o Social Support and Connection: Social media platforms allow teens to

o Learning Opportunities: Social media provides access to information,

o Creativity and Expression: Teens can express themselves through posts,

o Community Building: Social media allows teens to join groups, communities,

2. Risks and Challenges:

2. Set Clear Boundaries: Establish guidelines for screen time,

3. Model Healthy Behavior: Be a positive role model.

4. Educate About Privacy: Teach your teen about privacy settings,

5. Monitor Activity: Keep an eye on your teen’s social media

6. Promote Critical Thinking: Encourage your teen to question

7. Emphasize Kindness: Discuss the impact of words and actions

As youth mental health continues to suffer, parents, teachers, and legislators

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