Social media was created to make people socialize virtually, and that has been possible to some extent. There are multiple other benefits of social media as well, but the question is do the pros outweigh the cons of social media.

If you aren’t wise enough, things can get worse while using social media platforms. Especially with teens, with a lot of free time and the lack of proper guidance, things can go south for them.

Impact of Social Media on Teens

Not Social

We all have heard of so-called “Social Media platforms,” but are they really social? Some people use social media purely for socializing, but not everyone has similar intentions. The internet is harsh, and people with bad intentions make social media not social at all. Social media doesn’t depict real human interaction and doesn’t help with the social skills of teens. People on the internet are narcissists and are there to promote themselves instead of caring about others.

Increased Teen Depression

Social Media has taken many teens with its toxicity. Different studies support the fact about social media causing depressive symptoms in teens or everyone in general.  A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania found out increased loneliness and depression with the high usage of social media. It’s hard to handle the negativity, racism, body-shaming, and harassment going online. Cyberbullying and fake expectations that are way difficult to meet also contribute to added depression or anxiety in teens. 

Misinformation and Self-harm Content

Social Media being unregulated, carries tons of misinformation and harmful content. Although social media platforms have their guidelines and rules, people still find a way to spread harmful content. The misinformation has been on the internet for a long time, be it about fat loss, height gain, or even the COVID-19 vaccine. Teens are becoming vulnerable and trying to take their lives by getting addicted to the self-destructive content on the internet.

Avoiding adverse impacts of Social Media on Teens

Set Limit and Monitor the usage

Most of the social media problems are caused by the overuse and the addiction of the platforms. While spending more time on social media, we tend to forget the real world and get lost on the internet. A 2019 study suggests that people who spend more than three hours a day on social media might be more at risk of mental health problems. Now, most platforms also have a “your activity” feature where you can check the total time you’re spending there. It can help you keep track of your social media usage.

Encourage more face-to-face and live interactions

Like we said, social media isn’t social, so we encourage you to spend more time on live conversations. That way, you get to socialize and learn more from different people and perspectives. Having face-to-face interactions with people in real life helps you deal with loneliness and reduces the isolation factor from your life.

Follow people who inspire you more on Social Media

Now in the generation of the internet, everything is there at the tip of your finger. You could get the best out of social media by following influencers that inspire you. You can also use social media to learn, as ample pages share informative content that adds value to people’s lives.

The impacts of social media on teens can get horrific, but things can also get better if you get smart and monitor the usage. People have even lost lives due to social media, so be aware of its usage and negative impact.

Also read:

Why Removing Your Teen’s Devices Doesn’t Always Work

How Screen Addiction Effects Teens

How Cyberbullying Effects Mental Health

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If you are struggling with your teenager’s behavior due to internet addiction and have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen through emotional growth. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The post How Social Media Is Impacting Your Teen first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Whether it’s communicating with friends through social media, texting or chatting — or they are playing video games, it all involves screen-time.

Did you know, approximately 95% of teens have their own smartphone and 88% have access to a computer at home? Experts say that just because someone uses the internet a lot, or even obsessively, doesn’t mean they’re addicted.

Is your teen:

-Constantly (attached to their device) online?
-Always checking their social media platforms?
-Become anxious when they don’t have their phone?
-More engaged with their digital life than real life friends?
-Become enraged if you even mention removing their phone?
-A need to be on the internet that is more important than being with friends or engaging in other hobbies.
-A dip in grades for no other reason other than the desire to spend time on the internet, which prevents concentration on schoolwork.
-Ignoring school work, chores at home and personal hygiene in order to maximize time spent on the internet.
–Fatigue from staying up late or getting up early to be on the internet.
-Irritability, anger or emotional outbursts when questioned about the time spent online.

The key signal of internet use disorder — more commonly called internet addiction — is if the uncontrolled use of the internet for gaming, gambling, pornography, social media or blogging starts to interfere with the teen’s daily, real-world life.

At this point, internet use becomes a problem because it may affect teens’ physical health and social skills. Most importantly, it may aggravate any underlying mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, which are sometimes the major contributing factors to why teens develop internet addiction.

It has been extremely challenging times for both parents and teens. With the increase of digital addiction, we have seen a shift in behavioral changes with young people such as:

• Defiance
• Rage (explosive)
• Anger
• Withdrawn
• Failing in school

Especially if parents remove or threaten to take their devices away from the teen, the behavior escalates – some become destructive to the home property. Their online life is oxygen them.

It’s more beneficial to help them learn healthier digital habits and healthy relationship with their devices.

Treating Internet Addiction

Treating internet addiction isn’t always easy. Have you tried home contracts, even bargained with your teen in order to limit screen time and nothing worked? It might be time to consider a more extensive digital detox plan so your teens can develop a healthy relationship with technology.

The fact is — the internet is not going away. It’s imperative they learn coping skills to be productive and emotionally secure with their social media. There are too many young people living for likes and followers. Many teens actually base their self-worth on the number of likes or followers they have acquired. Sadly, this is now the world they live in.

Some of the more common psychological treatments of Internet Addiction Disorder include:

• Individual, group, or family therapy
• Behavior modification
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Equine Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Recreation Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Horticultural Therapy

Read: How Much Is Too Much Screen Time?

Read: How Cyberbullying Effects Teenage Mental Health.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

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Contact us for more information on quality therapeutic boarding schools to help your teen that is addicted to their cell-phone and the internet.

The post Internet Addiction: The Teen Generation first appeared on Help Your Teens.