80% of teens say
social media helps them feel more connected to their friends.3
67% say
they like having people who can support them through tough times.3
71% say
it gives them a place where they can show their creative side.3
CARING FOR YOUR TEEN • 2 minute read
What teens have to say about social media.
There’s been a lot of talk about the impact social media has on youth mental health.1 And while experts are still studying the pros and cons, we thought it would be interesting to look at the effects of social media from those who know it best: teens themselves.
Why it’s important
Around 95% of teens use some type of social media,2 and many spend more than the “recommended” four hours a day on various platforms. Our goal is to empower you to make the best decision for your kids and teens when it comes to their social media use. Is it helping or hurting their mental health? How can you help them use it safely? Read on to learn more.
The good, the bad and the stressful
To begin, let’s look at some of the positive things teens take away from social media use. They say it can help them
- meet new friends with shared interests;
- find community and support for specific activities; and
- express their creativity, and more.
But only 24% of all teens think the effects of social media have been mostly positive. Here are some stats from a recent Pew research study.3
38% of teens say
they have felt overwhelmed by the drama they see on social media.4
46% say
social media makes them feel worse about their body.4
31% say
it’s made them feel excluded by their friends.4
Six rules for safe media use
There are many articles about keeping your teen safe on social media. We’ve outlined a few important points below.
- Respect their privacy – to a limit. You can follow or friend your teen on social media (if they’ll let you), but do avoid going through their messages unless you have real cause for concern. Take their privacy seriously unless you feel they’re in danger.
- Set bedtime limits. Getting enough sleep is important for your teenager’s brain development. Have them give you their phone after 11:00 pm or charge their phone someplace other than their room to help avoid nighttime scrolling.
- Keep an eye out for unhealthy signals. Take notice if your teen
- is unable to stop using social media even when they want to;
- has problems with schoolwork or relationships because of social media use; and/or
- lies to use social media more.
- Follow your own rules. Avoid using your phone at the table, scrolling aimlessly on the couch or spending more time posting than talking to your family.
- Teach safe behaviors. Aside from not sharing their address, phone number or other personal data on social media, talk to your teen about cyberbullying—acting disrespectfully or hurtfully to others online. Let your teen know that being kind on social media or through texts is just as important as in person. And encourage them to tell you if they ever experience cyberbullying.
- Don’t make screen time a reward or a punishment. Taking away a teenager’s phone as punishment for failing grades or using it as a reward for a job well done could make them value their screen time even more than they already do. Of course, you should limit your teenagers’ access to phones and other media if you feel it’s affecting their health or if they’re using it inappropriately.
When to get help
You know your teenager best. Start by having a conversation about how they’re feeling—physically and mentally—when using social media. If you think your teen has symptoms of anxiety, depression or another mental health concern related to social media use, contact your pediatrician or connect to behavioral health support on myCigna.com.
Extra reading
Counseling for your teen
The LOG OFF Movement
A Teen’s Guide to Social Media Safety
- Katella K. “How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide.” Yale Medicine. June 17, 2024. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide
- Office of the Surgeon General. “Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory [Internet].” Washington (DC): US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37721985/
- Vogels A & Gelles-Watnick R. “Teens and social media: Key findings from Pew Research Center surveys.” Pew Research Center. Last updated May 17, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/24/teens-and-social-media-key-findings-from-pew-research-center-surveys/
- Anderson M, Vogels EA, Perrin A & Rainie L. “Teens’ views about social media.” Pew Research Center. November 16, 2022. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/11/16/2-teens-views-about-social-media
