APA & Social Media Guidelines
what does the American Psychological Association have to say about teens and social media use?
Did you know that the American Psychiatric Association has released new guidelines that they give to teen social media users? This is the first time the APA has stepped in and encouraged guidelines for teen social media use. These guidelines come on the heels of the ground-breaking CDC report on the rise of teen loneliness, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Much of which was linked to high social media usage.
I think it is revealing that now the CDC, the APA, and even some former Silicon Valley high-level employees are starting to communicate about some of the negative effects of social media. This grand social experiment of social media and pervasive technology use is now bearing fruit and the research is, at times, quite alarming. I’m thankful there are finally guidelines and boundaries to point to that have come through study and research. Here are the suggested guidelines from the APA:
Youth using social media should be encouraged to use functions that create opportunities for social support, online companionship, and emotional intimacy that can promote healthy socialization
Social media use, functionality, and permissions/consenting should be tailored to youths’ developmental capabilities; designs created for adults may not be appropriate for children.
In early adolescence (i.e., typically 10–14 years), adult monitoring (i.e., ongoing review, discussion, and coaching around social media content) is advised for most youths’ social media use; autonomy may increase gradually as kids age and if they gain digital literacy skills. However, monitoring should be balanced with youths’ appropriate needs for privacy.
To reduce the risks of psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to content on social media that depicts illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior, including content that instructs or encourages youth to engage in health-risk behaviors, such as self-harm (e.g., cutting, suicide), harm to others, or those that encourage eating-disordered behavior (e.g., restrictive eating, purging, excessive exercise) should be minimized, reported, and removed;23 moreover, technology should not drive users to this content.
To minimize psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to “cyberhate” including online discrimination, prejudice, hate, or cyberbullying especially directed toward a marginalized group (e.g., racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, ability status),22 or toward an individual because of their identity or allyship with a marginalized group should be minimized.
Adolescents should be routinely screened for signs of “problematic social media use” that can impair their ability to engage in daily roles and routines, and may present risk for more serious psychological harms over time.
The use of social media should be limited so as to not interfere with adolescents’ sleep and physical activity.
Adolescents should limit use of social media for social comparison, particularly around beauty- or appearance-related content.
Adolescents’ social media use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that users have developed psychologically-informed competencies and skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe, and meaningful social media use.
Substantial resources should be provided for continued scientific examination of the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent development.
One common thread throughout these guidelines is the need for a parent to be intentionally involved in the life of their kid. How else would a kid be screened for ‘problematic social media use’ (guideline 6)? How else would a kid have limits on their screen time so it doesn’t interfere with sleep or physical activity (guideline 7)? How else would a kid have ongoing conversations and coaching around social media content (guideline 3)?
Your role as a parent is absolutely vital in this area of your kid’s life. Don’t write it off. Fight the good fight, because it will most certainly be a fight if there have been no or few restrictions on social media, and now that may change a bit. That can be an uphill battle with what feels like little reward in the immediate. Don’t give up. Don’t grow weary in doing good.
As a parent, can you answer these questions? -
What social media apps does your kid have?
How long do they typically use those apps? (use the screentime feature on iPhones, it is revealing)
What kind of content are they viewing regularly? (check their “for you” or suggested content pages)
What impact does social media appear to be having on your kid?
What restrictions are in place regarding how much time they can be on social media and what they have the ability to access?
Are there rules for technology and screens near bedtime and after bedtime? Are phones allowed in their room after bedtime?
Knowing the answers to all of these questions, and there are certainly many more that could be asked, are beneficial to the mental health of your kid.
This requires intentional discipleship on the part of the parent. That’s the name of the game: DISCIPLESHIP. We cannot outsource discipleship to anyone else and expect them to care about what we care about and run that discipleship through the filter of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
And, we cannot downplay the importance of the daily discipleship of our kids. It is your role as a parent to be the primary discipler of your kid. Social media is one place where our kids absolutely need discipleship and instruction in how to conduct themselves online and to be good stewards of their time, resources, talents, and technology usage, including the usage of social media.
Did any of these guidelines surprise you? Which ones do you think are most applicable to your kid and your context?
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