There’s no question that tablets and smartphones are a present and growing part of our daily lives. If you’re a parent to children or teenagers, then the use of social media and youth mental health is likely a primary concern. I see it every day in my practice.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 18 percent of 8- to 12-year-olds use social media, and 62 percent of 13- to 18-year-olds do the same. Among adolescents and young adults, that number jumps to 90 percent. 

Social Media and Youth Mental Health Facts

As social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram rise in popularity with our children, it’s relation to mental health has come to the forefront. A 2019 study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that children who spend more than 3 hours each day on social media have a greater risk of mental health problems. What’s more, a 2018 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 59 percent of American teens have been bullied or harassed online.

Considering that rates of mental health concerns already run high among children, these added stressors can be quite worrisome for parents. Data from the National Center for Health Research noted that 13 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds report depression, and 32 percent of the same age group report problems with anxiety.

Smart Approaches to Social Media and Children's Mental Health

Of course, if you have a tween or teenager at home, then you know that outright abolishing their use of these apps likely isn’t going to be the answer in most cases. However, there may be value in delaying it as much as you can, until your children are more mentally mature. The U.S. Surgeon General recently said that he believes 13-year-olds are too young for many social media platforms.

When you do decide to allow your kids to engage with social media, establishing clear rules and guidelines, and holding your kids accountable if they don’t abide by those rules, is often the best approach. For example, before giving your kids permission to use TikTok, YouTube, Instagram or other social media platforms, Nemours KidsHealth recommends having a conversation with them to establish the rules and explain the implications of social media if they don’t post responsibly. This can include guidelines like:

• Always being nice
• Thinking twice before posting
• Not friending strangers
• Thinking about what they’d want others to see before posting anything
• Friending their parents and caregivers
• Limiting use to a reasonable amount of time each day

Nemours also recommends going through the privacy settings with your child to make sure that they are only sharing information with who they want to share it with. Finally, parents may consider creating a contract around these rules with their children, and there should be consequences if the rules aren’t followed.

Using Social Media for Good

Social media in the tween or teenage space isn’t all bad. Among other things, it helps them stay connected with each other and the world, learn about new topics, boost their creativity and discover volunteer opportunities. The Child Mind Institute notes that teenage pregnancy, drinking, illicit drug use and car accidents have all declined in the age of rising social media use.

The key, of course, is to establish clear rules and guidelines to ensure your child is using social media in a safe, healthy and productive manner. This can allow these apps to be a useful tool or a fun diversion, rather than an all-encompassing addiction that is negatively impacting their mental health.