181.  Social Media:  Guidance for Youth and Families

Social Media:  Guidance for Youth and Families

Are your kids glued to their screens?

Discover the shocking effects of unlimited social media!  Pediatric Meltdown is  giving a wake-up call to parents navigating the treacherous waters of their children’s online presence. This is the second installment of our series on social media and your children.  Host Dr. Lia Gaggino and guest expert Dr. Jane Harness tackle the urgent matter of social media safety, sharing eye-opening insights and actionable advice. 

Jane’s experience in child and adolescent psychiatry shines a light on not only setting digital boundaries but equipping our kids with the skills to surf the web with wisdom. This collaborative approach is not just about setting boundaries, but about building bridges between parents and children in the digital age. This episode will leave you with key insights on the vulnerabilities of the developing brain and social media. The conversation underscores the subtleties of cyberbullying and its potential grave consequences, reiterating the need for open, honest discussions to forge a safer digital landscape for our younger generation.

From the importance of parents modeling healthy media use to leveraging reputable sources for combating misinformation, the discussion covers critical territories in a parent’s finding their way through the social media maze. Remember that your approach to discussing media use with your children could change everything—it’s time to find out the cyber secret your kids might not even realize they’re hiding.

[00:33 -12:21]  Impact of Social Media Use on Youth Mental Health

• Different types of social media platforms can have varying effects on the mental health of young people.
• Social media use may contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem among youth.
• The constant exposure to curated and idealized representations of others’ lives on social media can negatively impact youth mental health.
• Cyberbullying and online harassment are significant risks associated with social media use, leading to adverse psychological outcomes.

[12:22- 22:55] Understanding the Impact of Social Media on Youth  

• Kids have a good understanding of social media use and its effects on them.
• Social media can be addictive and lead to loss of control if not used responsibly.
• Unhealthy content consumption can have negative consequences on mental and emotional well-being.
• Research shows that children are aware of the potential pitfalls of social media, including cyberbullying.

[22:56 -40:21]  Insights from Text-Based Study on Youth Perspectives

• Consider the importance of authenticity when using social media platforms
• Discuss the potential consequences of oversharing personal information online
• Explore the impact of social media on mental health and well-being from a youth perspective
• Provide resources and guidance for new users to navigate social media safely and responsibly

[40:22 – 52:05]  Strategies for Managing Social Media Use and Mental Health Impact

• Setting shared goals to redirect focus away from excessive social media use
• Acknowledging the importance of communication with friends and finding alternative ways to connect
• Implementing limits and boundaries to ensure a healthy balance between online and offline activities
• Recognizing the role of limits in creating a sense of safety for youth

[52:06 – 58:40]  Closing segment Takeaway

Links to resources mentioned on the show

• Here is the MyVoice study 
• “Youth Insight About Social Media Effects on Well/Ill-Being and Self-Modulating Efforts”
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35691849/
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• AACAP Screen Media Resource Center:
• https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Screen_Media_Resource_Center/Home.aspx
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• Children and Screens:
• https://www.childrenandscreens.com/
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• Family Media Plan:
• https://www.healthychildren.org/English/fmp/Pages/MediaPlan.aspx?gclid=CjwKCAjw5MOlBhBTEiwAAJ8e1hJPqZ2l2Zmip9-lkL1NYwRFZUGuYUvGlaWAr1y8US0Wa1H5oxWMfRoCDzEQAvD_BwE
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• Dr. Sood’s PsychChild:
• https://www.psychchild.com/
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• HEADS4 paper:
• https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/141/6/e20173655/37615/HEADS4-Social-Media-Screening-in-Adolescent?redirectedFrom=fulltext
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• On scripting for social media interviewing – Psychiatric Times:
• https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/social-media-use-and-youth-mental-health-a-guide-for-clinicians-based-on-youth-voices
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• Webinar about social media and youth mental health:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR20eddFDbs&ab_channel=MichiganMedicine
• Article related to that webinar:
• https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/social-media-use-double-edged-sword-teens-what-can-caregivers-do
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• Video about practical setting changes youth can make:
• https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/news/archive/202211/social-media-top-setting-tips-promote-positive-boundaries-mental-health-young-people
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• Articles about MyVoice study:
• U of M: https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/news/archive/202211/many-young-people-recognize-negative-impact-social-media-have-considered-deleting-accounts
• NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/05/17/1176452284/teens-social-media-phone-habit
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• American Academy of Pediatrics caregiver website- multiple media topics:
• https://healthychildren.org/english/family-life/media/pages/default.aspx
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• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Facts for Families- multiple media topics:
• https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Layout/FFF_Guide-01.aspx
• School social media educational programs: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/social-media-and-youth-mental-health-q-and-a-portal/tech-in-k-12-education-questions/
• Surgeon General’s Advisory:
• https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf
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• “Transgender Adolescents’ Uses of Social Media for Social Support”:
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1054139X19304215
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• “Social Media Use and Health and Well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth: Systematic Review”:
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9536523/

Other episodes you may like:

For all episodes, go to Episodes – Pediatric Meltdown

Ep #180. Social Media and Kids: The Big Picture

Ep #159 Youth Suicide Prevention: Safety Planning and Lethal Means Safety Counseling

Key quotes for Twitter:

“It’s important to, Have those conversations as a family about what will be the times that will be screen free and try the best that they can adhere to those rules.”… Dr. Jane Harness on Family screen time dynamics

“we’ve seen that in the mental health field that there’s a lot of just information out there on social media related to mental health, and a lot of it can be taken out of context and then kind of applied in any way that could be potentially problematic.”…Dr. Jane Harness on navigating health information on social media

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