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Here's how to limit your teen's use of social media, given its link to teen sadness:
Compared to a decade ago, more youths are experiencing sadness. The U.S. Surgeon General's advice, released in May 2023, indicates that social media might be a factor affecting teen mental health. Consumer Reports suggests that parents can take simple steps at home to help their teenagers limit their social media usage.
Public health professionals have raised concerns about the connection between teen mental health and social media use. Pew Research Center data shows that almost every American teenager uses the internet daily to interact with peers, with half stating they're online almost constantly.
Nearly 3 out of 5 young girls say they've felt so depressed or hopeless that they couldn't carry out regular daily activities.
The number of teenagers feeling this way has reached its highest point in a decade, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The online world can vastly differ from offline experiences, leading some to feel they can't survive without their phones due to their addictive nature.
A psychotherapist in New York notes that some teens spend six to eight hours daily in front of a screen, primarily on social media.
On the bright side, kids who cut their social media usage by 50% for several weeks reported feeling better about their body image. Regulating the frequency and duration of app use can foster healthier habits.
If you prefer your teen not to use a specific app, you can navigate to settings and set restrictions, such as "Do not allow this app to be used between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m." Both iOS and Android offer robust parental controls.
Turning off the WiFi is another alternative. To do this: Find your router's IP address to access its admin interface. Search for a section labeled time management or parental controls. There, you can set WiFi schedules for your devices.
Remember, you can either set one schedule for all devices or different schedules for each.
Furthermore, parents can establish tech-free zones in certain areas or during specified times. Limiting screen time and exemplifying the behavior you wish your child to adopt can also make a difference.