Parenting Pointers: Trends in Social Media

 Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago recently polled nearly 3,000 current or recent parents of teenagers to better understand their most pressing concerns and challenges with social media, as well as trends in behavior exhibited by their children. 

Here's what they found:

• 58% of parents think social media has a net negative effect on their teens.  
• 68% believe social media affects their teen's ability to socialize normally and 67% have felt concerned their teen is addicted to social media. 
• Top parental concerns regarding social media use: 1. Not sleeping enough 2. Not enough physical activity 3. Not enough focus on schoolwork 4. Unhealthy need for approval or attention 5. Not enough face-to-face interaction.
• Most concerning platforms: 1. Instagram 2. Snapchat 3. TikTok 4. Facebook. 5. YouTube. 
• 63% of parents report their teens use of social media has increased during the pandemic, though more parents (45%) are appreciative of social media during the crisis than those who are increasingly concerned about it (39%). 

You can learn more in the full report 

I also had a chance to interview Claire Coyne, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, The Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

1. Why are parents cautious about teen's social media use?

Teens are using social media and digital technologies in ways that feel new and different to parents, who themselves may have limited experience, exposure and comfort social media.  Parents worry about peer victimization and young people seeking out harmful content (e.g., nonsuidical self-injury content for example), in addition to feeling like they are spending too much time online to the exclusion of other health activities (e.g., sleep, exercise). Also, we have limited information about the association between social media use and mental health outcomes for adolescents, and parents are trying to make choices with limited information.

2. What benefits might social media have?

Teens use mobile devices to access forms of entertainment (e.g., movies, music, gaming) that have always been appealing to adolescents, and to stay connected with their friends. The way that young people use social media to explore interests, maintain peer relationships, and explore their identities may be new but not necessarily different than past generations. Social media can allow teens to connect with young people who share similar interests and identities.  

3. How can parents help their teens use social media responsibly?

Parents should be thinking about how to help their teens build the capacity to use social media and digital technology safely and effectively. Social media isn’t going anywhere--as they mature into adulthood, teens are going to need skills to navigate social media use both personally and professionally.

The book Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner is a good resource for parents looking for strategies. Parents should have direct conversations with their teens about their worries, and explore how young people might handle difficult online scenarios. Talk with teen about what skills and strategies they already have for navigating online spaces, and be clear about expectations for behavior and communication in online spaces. The potential for anonymous communication via social media can change what young people feel comfortable saying to or sharing with peers. Parents should talk with young people about how they might navigate situations so that teens aren’t left to make novel and challenging decisions without some preparation.

Parents can also put effort into modeling a healthy balance in their own digital technology use, and set appropriate rules about when and how phones and screens are used in the home (e.g., devices out of rooms when it's time to sleep, periods of time like during meals when there are no devices).

4. What other ways can teens socialize when it’s harder to get together face to face?

There are many ways that youth can connect with friends and family using digital technology (e.g., video calls, groups chats, video games and online gaming). Parents can encourage their children to use digital technologies and social media in ways that encourage social connectedness rather than social comparison—focusing on communication and shared activities rather than comparing themselves to others in online spaces (e.g., Instagram, TikTok).