Pandemic Parenting: Managing the Hidden Perils of Social Media
Since the advent of modern technology, we’ve seen a major shift in how children and teenagers connect with one another. Pew Research results show that in back in 2018, in a survey of 13- to 17-year-olds, 45% were online almost constantly and 97% used a social media platform. Now, 95% of all teens have access to a smartphone, and 46% of teens still report being online almost constantly. What’s even more concerning is that in a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, non-school related screen time among teenagers doubled from pre-pandemic estimates of 3.8 hours per day up to 7.7 hours. The majority of those hours are spent on social media and online gaming, with the former spread over platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter.
While social media can have positive and beneficial impact on teens–keeping up with friends, connecting with peers across the world, real time updates on world events–it does not come without risk. This is particularly noticeable with the recent increase in influencer culture. A social media influencer is someone who has built a reputation for their knowledge and “expertise” in a specific area. There’re a variety of influencer fields–makeup, lifestyle, fashion, fitness, and even mental health. However, the title of influencer doesn’t mean a person has a formal education or training in said topic. However, they have obtained enough experience that their large following will rely on them for advice or recommendations. Celebrities are often considered influencers, as are Youtube and viral TikTok stars.
Though influencers often do dispense valuable and timely advice, they also post regularly about their day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, many do not divulge the fact that everything they present on social media is highly edited and curated to give off a specific image. Whether it’s the perfect body, clear skin, beautiful clothes, or fancy vacations, influencers expose their followers to a set of standards that many cannot meet in their own lives. The lack of transparency often causes their followers–many of whom are teens and young adults–to get “FOMO,” or fear of missing out.
When teens and young adults start to believe they can’t be happy unless they look, act, and live like their favorite influencer, it leads to significant insecurity. This has resulted in an increase in body image dissatisfaction, weight and eating issues, and shame or embarrassment. If these situations aren’t identified and addressed early, they can evolve into anxiety, depression, and even self-harm. The continued exposure to posts that make them insecure only exacerbates the problem.
To make matters worse, cyberbullying is a major problem that is on the rise. People are sharing details about their personal lives with strangers on the internet, sometimes divulging information they wouldn’t even tell people in real life. While that can be freeing and allow some to seek support, it also creates an environment where people feel entitled to pass judgement on others. The added sense of anonymity allows these bullies to post and send disrespectful, and sometimes threatening, messages. There have been recent cases where cyberbullying resulted in the teenage victims taking their own lives.
Now, as worrying as these situations are, banning teenagers and young adults from social media is not an ideal answer. After all, it can create social isolation for your child, particularly during this ongoing pandemic. Instead, it would be helpful to educate them on the dangers of social media, as well as setting boundaries and/or rules for use. While time consuming, updating yourself on current social media trends and hot topics will help you anticipate any potential issues. So will understanding your child’s reasons for using social media, as well as considering their emotional and mental maturity. The important thing is to keep in mind there’s no one right way to handle your child’s social media use. If possible, start having conversations about social media before granting your child access. Continue to check in with them periodically in an open, non-judgemental manner. Have a plan for how they can let you know if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. All of these things will help your child have a safe and healthy experience online.
Written by: Jennifer Yen, MD