Teens and social media: Help for a healthier relationship

It’s no secret that social media and technology use among adolescents has increased dramatically in recent years. For many teens, a smartphone has become a constant companion, especially since technology was often the only way teens could connect during the pandemic. By 2023, about 90% of teens aged 13-17 were estimated to have at least one social media account, and 70% of those use social media more than once a day, with a majority reporting using it hourly or almost constantly.*

How does all that usage affect their lives? When asked, most teens feel that social media has a positive impact on their ability to connect with friends, provides opportunities to express their creativity, and boosts their self-confidence. Still almost 40% feel overwhelmed by what they see and 23% say it makes them feel bad about themselves.*

The link between social media and mental health

While social media use has exploded, many researchers and clinicians have noted an uptick in mental illness among teens in recent years as well. Sucheta Thekkedam, PhD, a licensed psychologist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital refers to it as a “mental health epidemic.” Last year the American Psychological Association (APA) issued a Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescents, amplifying the importance of this issue. As Jessica Marevka, a psychology intern in the department notes, “More and more often, the literature refers to addiction-type issues.”

Many studies have also found an association between time spent on social media with symptoms of depression and anxiety. One contributing factor may be that teens often use social media late at night while they should be sleeping, which can impact mood and anxiety levels. In addition, a teenager’s natural need for connectedness often leads to FOMO (fear of missing out), intensified by what they see on social media. Also the highly curated images presented can leave teens feeling inadequate and feed into issues with body image. Problems with cyberbullying and online predators pose additional mental health challenges for teens. So what’s a parent to do?

Helping your child find balance

Social media is here to stay, and like many things in life, moderation is the key. However for teens that may be difficult. It’s up to parents to help identify and encourage healthy levels of usage. Talking to your child early and often to establish expectations, monitoring usage, modeling good behavior yourself, and keeping lines of communications open are all important. The APA advisory stresses the value of “social media literacy” to ensure teens have the skills before they become active.

Parents should also consider these factors in determining the health of their child’s relationship with social media:

• Does your child take part in a range of activities that go beyond screentime?
• Are they getting adequate sleep and performing well academically?
• Do they prefer social media to in-person interactions?
• Is it hard for them to put down their phones, even when they want to?
• Are they hiding or lying about their use?

In addition, Thekkedam notes, “Trouble making eye contact, struggling socially, or not wanting to go to school may be signs of social anxiety resulting from a lack of comfort with personal interaction.” If you have concerns, speak to your child’s pediatrician. In addition, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon has recently launched a new program to help teens foster a healthier relationship with technology while bonding with each other.

TTYL: Technology & Teens: Youth Lifestyle

Designed to help teens (and parents) connect on some all-important topics surrounding social media, this four-session program combines community with therapeutic support to help families discover new ways of approaching technology and social media.

Developed by Thekkedam and Marevka, the TTYL group consists of three weekly meetings with the teens, followed by a final session for parents. Topics include:

• Like, Share, & Compare Culture
• Social Media & Mental Health: The Do’s and Don’ts
• Cyber Self-Defense
• Let’s Talk Tech for Teens: The Parent’s Ultimate Guide

The program is split into middle school and high school groupings which meet near the hospital campus on different days at 4 pm, with up to 12 teens in each group. According to Marevka, the 90-minute sessions “offer a chance for younger teens to get ahead of the game and older teens to course-correct.”

While much of the content is social media related, online video gaming, texting, and other interactive activities are part of the conversation. Each week includes time for learning, discussion, reflection, and fun. Thekkedam adds, “Parents who would like to take part in TTYL, but whose children are not able to or interested in attending, are welcome to register for the final parent-only session.”

TTYL: Technology & Teens: Youth Lifestyle is covered by insurance and Medicare/Medicaid. Grants are also available for St. Louis County residents. More information and registration is available now for upcoming sessions.

*Techreport.com, Teenage Social Media Usage Statistics in 2023