In a world where technology is evolving at lightning speed, it seems near impossible to stay on top of all the new social media platforms and content trends – not to mention the potential dangers that lurk there. More and more young people are being exposed to inappropriate content, to be sure, but they’re also inundated with the activities their peers are doing, which can lead to an unrealistic view of what they should be doing.
The type of content young people are seeing online impacts their mental health significantly, and they are exposed to it every single day. While it’s not practical to think we as parents can fully protect our kids from negative content, we can help them protect themselves and help them understand what they are being exposed to. When that’s not enough, children and teen therapy in Danville CA can step in and fill in the gaps.
A Culture of Validation
Even adults compare themselves to others here and there. But for kids and teens, this need to compare is compounded as they are inundated with pressure to get better grades, have more exciting social lives, and enjoy more comfortable home lives. When they feel like they fall short of what others are experiencing, they can feel a profound sense of dissatisfaction and disappointment about their own lives, points out Mental Health America.
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is very real and can be felt across many age groups. This culture of seeking validation is pervasive, as we strive to get more likes, more comments, and higher follower counts. When those numbers fall short, it’s easy to feel inadequate. Seeing their friends post pics online of them having a good time at a party or at a concert can push those feelings of FOMO to anxious levels.
Tips For Healthy Online Exposure
As parents, it’s our job to monitor what our children are seeing online, but also to help them understand what they are seeing and what it really means.
Only Highlights Are Posted
The very foundation of social media was built to show off the best parts of life. No one brags about losing the big football game. High school seniors don’t post pics of their college rejection letters. And for every post of a party, there’s someone at home who didn’t get the invite. Remind your child that people only share what they want other people to see. Even the seemingly happiest people online have many more bad or mundane days than joyful or exciting ones.
Connect Offline
Encourage your child to spend less time online and more time connecting with others offline. This doesn’t just serve to reduce screen time, but it also helps kids and teens avoid triggers they may encounter while mindlessly scrolling through social media. Another thing connecting offline does is build resiliency against FOMO. If you’re busy doing something else fulfilling, it’s hard to feel left out of something they see online.
Reducing usage also has a very real effect on perception of self. According to the American Psychological Association, teens who reduced their social media and online usage by 50 percent for just a few weeks experienced significant improvement in the way they felt about their weight and overall appearance compared with their peers who maintained consistent social media use.
Body Image and Dissatisfaction
Your teen’s social media feeds are chock full of images of influencers, celebrities, and peers who they often perceive as being more successful or attractive than they are. This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Remind your kids that many of those photos have been filtered and edited, and the one photo that was posted was probably one of 50 that got rejected behind the screen.
Also, influencers tend to exaggerate the power of the products they’re touting, from supplements to beauty products, particularly if they are paid to promote those items.
Seek Professional Support
Despite all these tips, sometimes kids and teens fall into dangerous behaviors or habits, such as anxiety due to body dissatisfaction or disordered eating, after being exposed to too many algorithms pushing harmful content. If you are concerned that your child is showing symptoms of an eating disorder, anxiety, or depression, reach out for professional help.
Contact Us For a Free Initial Consultation Today
It can seem like an insurmountable task to protect your child online all by yourself as parents. We can help with focused and individualized children and teen therapy sessions led by a team of thoughtful, engaged, and compassionate clinicians in Pleasanton CA and surrounding areas. To schedule your free consultation, contact Growing Together Preventive & Psychological Services today.
