When it comes to using social media, virtually everyone can tell you it has both benefits and drawbacks. Up to 95% of teens aged 13-17 regularly use social media, with YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram topping the charts in popularity. Usage has only increased in the last several years, with newer social media platforms like TikTok replacing sites of yore like Vine. Despite the ever-changing lineup of platforms, social media apps aren’t going away anytime soon – and neither is their popularity among teens.
Although social media has benefits, it also has drawbacks that can affect young people’s mental and physical health. As therapists for teenagers, we at Liz Morrison Therapy work with many young people who struggle to deal with the impact of social media on their self-confidence, friendships, and lives. So today we’ll talk about both the pros and cons, how social media might be impacting you, and how you can find support with therapy for teens.
The Impact of Social Media on Youth: Pros and Cons
If you’ve been anywhere near social media recently (and let’s face it, you probably have), you know there are plenty of things keeping you coming back – and plenty of things you probably wish you didn’t have to deal with.
Pros of Social Media:
You likely use social media to keep up with your friends and peers and to learn about news, trends, and events happening in the world. Social media is also a great way to stay in touch with your friends in another town if you’ve recently moved or are planning on moving soon.
It’s easy to learn new skills via social media, too. With a few clicks, you can learn about new activities, hobbies, skillsets, and interesting information you wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Opportunities for entertainment and learning are neverending.
It’s also easier than ever to meet friends online and to find representation of people who look like you, share your values, or feel the way you do about things. For example, a gay teen living in a tiny rural town might feel isolated, but she can easily find other members of the LGBTQ+ community online. These online communities can be incredibly beneficial in helping people feel less alone and more connected in the world.
Additionally, social media is unparalleled for its ease of communication with others. The messaging and comments can be great for keeping in touch with your friends when you don’t get to see them face to face.
Cons of Social Media:
However, these same comments and messages can be a drawback of the platforms as well as a benefit. The comments sections of Instagram or other social media accounts can be divisive and anger-fueled places. Bullying, teasing, and spreading rumors can all happen alarmingly quickly. This can be incredibly scary and hurtful for the person on the receiving end and can lead to severe mental health issues.
Other problems with social media use among teens include FOMO (fear of missing out), pressure to post positive and attractive content about yourself, pressure for likes and comments, and concern that somebody will post something that reflects poorly on you.
Fear of missing out can happen when you’re scrolling through your feed and suddenly see photos and videos of a party or event that you weren’t invited to or didn’t know about. Plus, you may feel constant pressure to be up to date on the latest posts and content from your friends and peers at school so you don’t miss anything.
Pressure to post content that frames you in a positive light is another stressor of social media. It’s easy to misrepresent yourself and your emotional state because if you’re not constantly posting fun, funny, or cute media, your friendships and social status can feel threatened.
You can also fall into the comparison trap: how does what you’re posting compare with the posts of your friends? Are they getting more likes and comments than you? How will that impact your real-life interactions with people?
All these social media stressors can lead to big mental health problems for teens, including:
Depression, loneliness, and low self-worth
Difficulty sleeping
Trouble concentrating
Procrastination of schoolwork
Inability to communicate effectively
If you’re experiencing any of these mental health challenges, talk to a trusted adult or consider therapy for teens. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to deal with these issues by yourself. Social media can be a lot to manage, and you can get help finding ways to feel better. And there are always resources and help available for cyberbullying, harassment, or other abusive online acts.
How to Help if Your Teen is Struggling With the Impact of Social Media
If you’re a parent reading this article, you can help your teen with the impacts of social media. Here are three things you can do today:
1. Have regular check-ins with them about their lives – online and otherwise – and listen to them. Learn to recognize signs of anxiety or depression, and don’t ignore red flags. Talk to them about healthy ways to cope with tough feelings, and help them figure out solutions to any issues that may arise.
2. Set screen-free hours or days for the whole family. Maybe this is at night a couple of hours before bedtime, during a vacation, or for an hour or two before or after school. And make sure you model appropriate phone behavior, too. It’s easy for everyone to reach for their phone and start scrolling distractedly, but if you practice restraint and awareness, it will be easier for your teen to as well.
3. Validate your teen’s feelings – being a teen is harder than ever in many ways, and navigating an ever-changing world of technology isn’t easy. Sometimes what your kid may need is an empathetic ear, not someone to solve their problems.
Supporting Your Teen
If you think extra support would be helpful for you or your child, therapy for teens can help.
Our team of teen therapists offers therapy for teens in New York to help them learn how to navigate the impacts of social media, decrease anxiety and depression, and respond to life’s challenges in a healthy way.
We also provide therapy for parents to provide you with support. We know parenting is tough. It’s easy to feel lost, alone, and unsure of how to best support your child. We can help you learn resources and skills to support your child in a constantly changing world. We also help you learn how to better communicate with your child, so you feel more connected and at ease with one another.
Feel free to get in touch with us for a free 15-minute phone consultation. We can answer any questions you have, see whether we’re a good fit, and start working toward a better future today.
Find Your Teen Support With Therapy For Teens in Manhattan, New York City, Brooklyn, and anywhere in New York
If your teen is struggling with the pressures of social media, our specialized therapy for teens can help them navigate the pros and cons while building resilience and self-esteem. Connect with a compassionate teen therapist at Liz Morrison Therapy to give your child the tools they need to thrive both online and offline. Don’t wait—take the first step towards a healthier, happier future for your teen. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
1. Contact us to schedule an appointment for therapy for teens
2. Begin meeting with a skilled teen therapist
3. Find support for your teen!
Other Services Offered at Liz Morrison Therapy
At Liz Morrison Therapy, we offer services for the whole family. So in addition to supporting your teen in therapy for teens, our services also include parenting support for those looking to create healthy relationships with their children to help them live their best lives, young adult therapy for individuals looking for support, guidance, and real-world strategies to help them deal with their struggles, and anxiety therapy for those wanting to cope with their anxiety in healthy ways. For more about us check out our blogs and FAQs.
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