Summer can be a particularly contentious time for families regarding social media use, as children are home from school and their relaxed schedules mean they spend more time on their devices, sparking concerns from parents.
Spending too much time on social media is not healthy.
WellSpan pediatrician Dr. Caroline Hall cites some of the inherent dangers of excessive social media use, including cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, obesity, social delays, behavioral problems and increased depression and anxiety.
The statistics bear out the impact: A 2019 study by the American Medical Association found that teens who spend three hours a day on social media are twice as likely to suffer from depression, but a Gallup poll found that teens actually spend more time on social media than that, about five hours a day.
Nearly half of teens say social media makes them feel bad about their bodies, according to a survey by the Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Institute, while a Pew Research Center survey found that 74% of teens actually feel happier and 72% feel more peaceful when they’re away from their smartphones.
The risks that social media poses to children’s health are so serious that Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy recently called on Congress to require social media to carry labels, like those on the sides of cigarette packs, warning people that their use may be harmful to their health.
If Congress doesn’t issue a surgeon general’s warning, or even if it does, Hall said parents have a critical role to play in helping their children develop a sense of balance and lead full, happy lives — a topic she brings up regularly when seeing patients.
“Parents often tell me they worry their children are spending too much time on video games or phones, but acknowledge that it’s impossible to limit digital media use in the context of busy everyday lives,” she says. “As a parent of three myself, I understand this reality all too well. It’s easier to allow the use to continue than to deal with an upset child. Obviously there is no one-size-fits-all plan, but as a pediatrician, I feel it’s my job to work with parents to develop a plan that works for their family.”
Here are some tips from Dr. Hall on how to navigate a challenging digital environment with your kids:
- First, set a healthy example: Don’t check or scroll through your phone too often, especially when you’re spending time with your kids and family.
- Talk to other parents who have kids the same age as you, especially if they are still young and don’t have cell phones. Consider banding together and adopting similar rules about the age at which your kids can get and use a cell phone, or, if they already have one, what limits you impose on them (time of use, time of day). That way your kids don’t say, “I’m the only one who can’t…”
- Get everyone in the family to put their phones away in a central place, like the kitchen, an hour before bedtime to give them time to wind down before bedtime.
- Make certain activities “cell phone free”: the dinner table, family gatherings, family activities like game nights or mini golf, sporting or music events, etc. Focus on spending time together without taking selfies or photos of your surroundings.
- Going on vacation? Use your phone only for practical purposes like booking activities and getting directions, not for entertainment in your free time.
- Consider sitting down with your child to create a family media plan that works for your family. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this tool.
- As a parent, if you are concerned about your child’s behavior, such as them moving away from activities they previously enjoyed, please talk to your child’s pediatrician or doctor. We are here to help. Find a pediatrician or family doctor here.
