Tips for how parents can help reduce the negative effects of social media on kids and teens

Many parents are concerned about the effects of social media on children and teens’ mental health. Here are some tips to help reduce the negative effects of social media on your kids and teens.

Role model healthy social media usage

The strongest form of learning is through modeling. It is therefore imperative that you pay attention to your own social media usage, especially when you are using it in front of your kids. Lead by example and show them how we can use social media appropriately.  

Encourage and prioritize real world social interactions and experiences

It is very important to balance social media interactions with real world social interactions. Help your kids make plans with friends in the real world and help them find activities that are interesting and engaging.

Discuss healthy boundaries such as times when members of the family do not go online

Most kids and teens struggle with balance. Help your kids develop healthy boundaries and balance with their social media usage. Some of these boundaries can be limiting the amount of time on social media sites, specifying times when they do not engage, and not using social media while simultaneously interacting with people in real life.

Help your children understand that not everything online is real

One of the most persistent problems for both kids and teens is that they tend to compare their life with what they see on social media. Help them understand that social media presents a false sense of reality and that not everything there is real.

Work with your children to help them understand their emotional triggers and how to avoid those triggers online

This is a very important lesson for kids and goes beyond their social media usage. A very common challenge for kids with social media is that they are unaware that the posts they are reading can trigger them and this can cause many mental health challenges. Help your kids and teens to understand how the posts affect them, how to manage those feelings, and how to avoid/reduce those feelings in the future.

Discuss both the benefits and consequences of social media

There are both benefits and consequences of social media. It is important to not disregard the positives but instead help your children to learn how to manage the more challenging aspects.