What should parents do...
Teens can use social media to enhance their social development. But teens can also be negatively impacted by their own social media use. Social media use can also lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to content that is not developmentally appropriate.
Model the behavior we want to see in them:
- Avoid oversharing on social media. Ask our teens before we post about them
- Have designated times every day when we shut down our devices and fully and intentionally engage in face to face contact, so our teens are learning verbal and non-verbal cues that are so important in communication
- Giving teens our full attention when they talk to us and avoid glancing at our devices
- Set clear, firm boundaries right when you give an adolescent a phone: The phone must be charged somewhere other than in the teen’s room at night. The phone will be shut off an hour before bed for good sleep hygiene. A parent has passwords and monitors social media use until he or she is comfortable the teen is using it in a healthy manner
Foster the teen's self-esteem on and off social media by supporting his/her positive inner qualities, rather than promoting popularity and appearances
