Navigating Teens' Social Media: A Parent's Guide to Promoting Well-being and Ensuring Safety
Social media plays a significant role in the lives of teenagers, shaping how they connect, learn, and express themselves. Platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are used by 63%, 60%, and 59% of teens aged 13 to 17, respectively (Anderson et al., 2023). While social media provides opportunities for connection and self-expression, it also presents risks, including exposure to explicit content, cyberbullying, and societal pressures, all of which can negatively affect a teen’s mental and emotional health. Parents’ concerns about privacy, reputation, and sharing personal information are valid. Although these risks are real, many teens also have positive online interactions that contribute to their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Understanding both the risks and rewards of social media is necessary in order to protect and support your teen.
Privacy and Reputation
Research shows that many teens overshare personal information on social media. For example, 71% post their school’s name, 53% share their email address, 20% post their cell phone number, and 82% reveal their birth date (Madden et al., 2013). This trend is increasing, raising concerns about privacy and safety. Sharing too much personal information can expose teens to risks such as cyberbullying, identity theft, and unwanted contact from strangers.
To help your teen manage these risks, engage in conversations about the importance of privacy and the potential long-term consequences of sharing personal details online. Encourage them to set their accounts to private, limit the information they share, and understand the concept of a “digital footprint.” Discuss how online actions can affect future opportunities, such as college admissions and employment. Additionally, it is important to talk about the social and emotional impact of sharing certain content, such as photos in swimsuits or revealing attire. While such posts may feel empowering, they can attract unwanted attention and be misused for online predation or exploitation.
Negative Exposures
It’s unrealistic to expect that teens can completely avoid negative online content, such as explicit material, sexual solicitations, or cyberbullying. Studies show that exposure to these types of content can trigger PTSD symptoms in adolescents (McHugh et al., 2018). However, instead of focusing solely on avoidance, teaching teens coping strategies to manage these experiences is helpful. Techniques such as mindfulness, physical activity, and taking actions to prevent future negative encounters like blocking harmful profiles or setting accounts to private, can help regulate emotional responses and reduce symptoms. Engaging in physical activities or focusing on hobbies has been shown to build resilience after negative online experiences and buffer the effects of trauma (Cohen et al., 2013). Encouraging your teen to adopt these strategies helps them process emotions in healthier ways and reduces the likelihood of PTSD symptoms.
The Positive Side of Social Media Use in Teens
While it’s important to be aware of the risks, it’s also necessary to recognize the positive aspects of social media use. Many teens find that online interactions boost their self-esteem and allow for personal growth. Social media can be a valuable platform for connection, self-expression, and developing social capital. Positive content on these platforms, including motivational posts and mental health awareness, can inspire hope and optimism, encouraging teens to focus on their goals and well-being (Vaingankar, 2022). Additionally, social media provides opportunities for teens to celebrate achievements, set goals, and engage in healthy competition, all of which can lead to positive relationships and greater motivation.
In conclusion, while social media use presents both risks and benefits, understanding how to navigate these challenges can help you to support your teen. By having conversations about privacy, reputation management, and effective coping mechanisms for negative exposures, parents and educators can guide teens to use social media in ways that promote healthy development and well-being.
Anderson, M., Faverio, M., & Gottfried, J. (2023). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain the most widely used online platforms among U.S. teens. https://abfe.issuelab.org/resources/43096/43096.pdf
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Deblinger, E. (2017). Treating trauma and traumatic grief in children and adolescents (2nd ed., pp. 3–26). The Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/excerpts/cohen_ch1.pdf?t=1
Fellow, S., & Gasser, U. (2013). Teens, Social Media, and Privacy. https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2013/05/PIP_TeensSocialMediaandPrivacy_PDF.pdf
McHugh, B. C., Wisniewski, P., Rosson, M. B., & Carroll, J. M. (2018). When social media traumatizes teens. Internet Research, 28(5), 1169–1188. https://doi.org/10.1108/intr-02-2017-0077
Vaingankar, J. A. (2022). Social Media–Driven Routes to Positive Mental Health Among Youth: Qualitative Enquiry and Concept Mapping Study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2196/32758