Andrea Durrheim

Social media can be brutal. From peer group bullying to predatory behavior, inappropriate content, and unhealthy absorption due to the engagement-driven design many platforms rely on, parents and regulators are justifiably concerned about the harms today’s teens might face online. 

At a time when young people begin to explore the world beyond their immediate circles more fully, social media may expose them to negative influences. As most of us know, research has found links between heavy social media use and increased risk of depression, self-harm, and other mental health issues. There are no easy answers, but the concerns are real.

What Governments Are Trying 

Social media’s influence on the young has become an issue that goes beyond parental concern. Australia has passed legislation requiring platforms to prevent accounts for users under the age of 16, and regulators in other countries are also exploring ways to address the issue.

For example, the UK’s Online Safety Act bars social media companies from exposing young people to harmful content, and France is considering measures such as parental consent requirements and curfews for minors.

Meanwhile, critics argue that prohibitions and rules may be ineffective because teens can bypass restrictions by using adult credentials, borrowing accounts, or finding other workarounds. Regulations will be hard to enforce, and may ultimately have little impact on the problems they seek to address.

Platforms Say They’re Already Implementing Safeguards 

Social media companies are under pressure to protect teen users, and many say they are taking steps to do so. Reported guardrails include age restrictions, ad restrictions, privacy defaults, restricted messaging, and age-based content moderation.

However, just as teens may seek ways to bypass regulations, they may also find ways around platform safeguards. There is also skepticism about platforms’ commitment to teen harm reduction, since increased engagement benefits both the companies and their advertisers.

What Parents Can Do 

It would be realistic to assume that if teenagers are interested in social media, they’ll use it sooner or later. Teaching young people how to think critically, engage meaningfully, and set boundaries may be more beneficial than rule-setting, close supervision, or outright prohibition. 

The American Psychological Association (APA) advises starting the process in early adolescence, somewhere between the ages of 10 and 14. It recommends beginning with co-use, proceeding to carefully monitored social media activity, and gradually leading up to autonomy that will satisfy an older teenager’s desire for privacy. 

Open discussions will be key, and limitations on screen time can help avert excessive dependence on social media. For instance, you and your teen should discuss a family social media policy that limits time spent online so that they can enjoy a balanced lifestyle and healthy sleep. 

Social Media Literacy Skills Teens Need 

Parents play a key role in preparing teens for the time when supervision is relaxed. Important skills young people should learn include:

• The ability to question social media content as a representation of reality
• Understanding disinformation and knowing how to identify reliable sources
• Knowing that content may imply majority consensus and approval, even when that’s not necessarily true
• Being ready to prioritize real life over online life, for example, by maintaining a disciplined, balanced schedule
• Building healthy online relationships while maintaining privacy and personal safety
• Knowing how to deal with conflicts on social media
• Refraining from social comparisons based on content
• Recognizing and rejecting bias, hate speech, and discriminatory language

Should teens use social media? They already do, and prohibitions will just drive teen social media use underground, placing vulnerable young people in a position where they’re afraid to reach out for help or discuss their own mistakes. 

Since bans aren’t really a solution, the only way we can help is to encourage safer design and practice constructive parenting. Teens often share the same concerns as their parents and may be more receptive than we expect. The online world is fraught with risks, but so is the real one, and the best we can do is equip our children with the skills they need to navigate the social media landscape safely.