The Crisis
Recently the negative effects of social media use by children and young teenagers received prominent attention in the news. Love and Logic has always recommended that parents exercise caution regarding the use of social media by their kids, and we have always believed that social media might increase the risk of anxiety, depression, impulsivity, substance abuse, and more. It has now become apparent that this possibility is a reality.
Current Research and Recommendations
Current research has shown that social media usage by young children and teenagers can lead to addiction that results in depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems. There is even evidence to suggest that some social media platforms are deliberately designed to create this addictive potential. Because of these conclusions, medical experts have specific recommendations for parents regarding social media usage by children.
Many experts recommend delaying social media access until age 13 or older. This is based on developmental milestones recognized by child psychologists and reflected in some existing social media platform policies. Some recommendations include a stepped approach, such as not allowing any screen time before age 3 and only gradually allowing technology use throughout the important brain development years.
Researchers also advocate that parents enforce time restrictions for social media usage by children. This is based on research indicating that teens who spend more than three hours each day on social media double their risk of experiencing poor mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Making sure that children adhere to these recommendations requires parental monitoring. Many experts recommend that when children start using social media, parents must monitor their accounts, use parental controls available for some technology applications, and establish a family social media use plan. Such a plan can include:
- Creating Phone-Free Zones: Keep devices out of bedrooms at night to protect sleep.
- Establishing Tech-Free Times: For example, implement phone-free dinners.
- Encouraging Alternative Activities: Prioritize exercise, in-person social interactions, and academics, and time outdoors over screen time.
- Discussing Content: Discuss social media content with children rather than just setting rules, which can help build the ability to properly assess social media content.
Love and Logic Solutions
Recognition of the hazards for children associated with social media usage is encouraging. We also agree with the recommendations that parents should follow so that they can protect their children from the damaging effects of this technology on their children’s brain development.
However, as parents begin implementing these recommendations, they are immediately confronted with how to enforce them, what limits are appropriate, how to hold their children accountable for misuse of technology, and how to help kids learn the decision-making skills required to make healthy technology choices when they leave home. This is where Love and Logic provides critical tools for successful implementation.
For us, the basics of parenting remain the same even in the face of any new challenges posed by social media. Even though these modern issues are challenging, we can achieve positive outcomes by applying some age-old parenting truths:
- Kids need limits
- Limits are best set through actions instead of hollow threats
- When kids make poor decisions, they need to experience natural or logical consequences
- Consequences are always more effective when loving empathy is provided first
- Our kids will learn how to live their lives by watching us
Taking away devices just addresses the tip of the iceberg. Although it’s sometimes necessary to do this, it avoids confronting the deeper issue. Helping them develop a healthy self-concept addresses the larger problem below the water line.
Love and Logic has two products that can help parents as they endeavor to protect their kids from the effects of social media usage. Our audio package, 7 Ways To Create A Respectful, Responsible, and Resilient Family contains the foundational techniques for helping parents create a thriving family dynamic. It includes an audio specifically addressing how to raise healthy kids in our technology-saturated world.
We also have an audio, Shaping Self-Concept, that provides guidelines to help parents instill a healthy self-concept in contrast to a “social media self-concept.”
Thanks for reading!
