We frequently hear from parents and educators who are deeply concerned about the negative effects of social media on students. Today's generation is growing up immersed in an online world, raising worries about the impact of social media and its associated dangers on their development.

While researchers continue to study the impact of social media and screens on developing brains, the SmartSocial team recognizes that social media has become an unhealthy obsession for far too many teens and our society in general. We want to help parents and educators understand the magnitude of this online addiction, so we can work together to protect children globally from the negative effects of social media and promote healthier digital habits.

Educators and parents:

‍Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet. (Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)

Parent and Educator Training Video

What are the negative effects of social media?

We do not believe social media is all bad. There are a lot of good things that teens can accomplish using social media, but it is important to be aware of the negative effects in order to stay balanced.

The negative effects of social media include

Anxiety & depression

Research suggests that teens who spend more than three hours per day on social media are twice as likely to experience struggles with their mental health, including anxiety and depression. (Source: Yale Medicine)

Lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep
Numerous studies have shown that increased social media use has a significant association with poor sleep quality in teens (and adults). Using phones, laptops, and tablets at night before bed is also linked with poor self care, including quality sleep. Read more about social media jet lag.

Negative body image
Body image issues can be a problem for anyone, but teens are especially vulnerable. Social media can accentuate these issues by exposing teens to influencers who have the “perfect body” and forcing them to compare themselves to others. Studies have shown that when women in their teens and early twenties view Facebook for only a short period of time, body image concerns are higher compared to non-users. Read tips on how to talk with students about body image.

Cyberbullying
Bullying during childhood is a major risk factor for a number of issues including mental health, social anxiety, self esteem, eating disorders, education and social relationships, with long-lasting effects often carried right through to adulthood. Read about the signs that your student might be a victim of cyberbullying.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
FOMO has been robustly linked to higher levels of social media engagement, meaning that the more an individual uses social media, the more likely they are to experience FOMO. Read more about the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).

Read more about the benefits and risks of social media from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Positive effects of social media

Create a positive reputation

‍Using social media with a positive intention allows students to shape their online presence and influence the Google search results people see when searching for their name. This proactive approach helps future decision-makers, such as college admissions officers, scholarship committees, coaches, and employers, see a positive narrative crafted by the student. For inspiration, see examples of teens doing good through social media in "Teens Using Social Media for Good Deeds."

Finding inspiration through positive social networking

Teens can curate their social media feeds by following people who are positive and making a positive impact in the world. This exposes teens to positive examples and inspires them to make positive changes in their own lives.

Emotional support

‍Conversations on social media can emerge and provide young people with interpersonal skills and essential interaction as an integral part of overcoming difficult issues, particularly when they may not have access to that support face-to-face.

Community building

‍The community building aspect of social media can be a very positive experience for many teens. By joining ‘groups’ or ‘pages’ teens can surround themselves with like-minded people and share their thoughts or concerns.

Self-expression

‍Self-expression and self-identity are important aspects of development throughout the teen years. Social media can act as an effective platform for positive expression, self esteem, and letting teens put forward their best selves.

Building relationships

‍Evidence suggests that social media interactions can strengthen communication skills and adolescent friendships, helping teens deepen their bonds with those they already know.

How using social media affects teenagers

Too few of us are paying attention to how our teenagers’ use of technology—much more intense and intimate than a 3-year-old playing with dad’s iPhone—is affecting them. In fact, experts worry that the social media and text messages that have become so integral to teenage life are promoting anxiety and lowering self-esteem. - Child Mind Institute

Read enough of the current research and you’ll find that the negatives tend to feel bigger than the positives. While teens can use social media to connect and create friendships with others, they also confront cyberbullying, trolls, toxic comparisons, sleep deprivation, and less frequent face-to-face interactions, to name a few. Too much time spent scrolling through social media can result in symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. -  Psycom

Best & worst social media apps for teens

Not all apps have the same impact on teens. It’s important to make decisions as a family about what apps are appropriate for teens to use. 

At SmartSocial we work to help make those decisions easier for families by categorizing apps as Green, Gray, or Red based on how users connect with others (especially strangers) and the common content found in the feeds or discussions.

Green Zone Apps can positively impact your social media footprint (with parental guidance) and can help a student Shine Online.

Gray Zone Apps are where your students WANT to hang out, but if they use these apps in a negative or unhealthy way, it could hurt their digital footprint. Parents should be engaged when students use Gray Zone Apps.

Red Zone Apps usually have inappropriate and unmoderated content. Students are more prone to cyberbullying and chatting with strangers (sometimes even predators) on apps in the red zone. Often, these apps are anonymous and will encourage students to behave inappropriately. When students use an app in anonymous mode (without it being tied to their real identity) they tend to behave differently.

Read more about each app on the SmartSocial.com Popular Teen App List.

Four Cs to positive and negative effects of social media

The GOOD parts of social media

Connecting - When we use social media for connecting, we are growing our network of real people and finding different ways to be social. 

Communication - When we communicate (by direct messaging or emailing people) to invite them to events or ask them questions, we are interacting in a positive way and using our devices with a purpose.

The BAD parts of social media

Comparing - When we compare ourselves to others (the way they look, where they go on vacation, or who they are dating) we are comparing ourselves to them, often in a negative light. This causes anxiety and depression.

Consuming - When we have a spare moment in line at the bank, or we are bored in the passenger seat in the car, we might open our phone to check our Instagram feed. This is us filling the spaces by consuming other people's social media with the endless feed on Instagram/Snap/Facebook, etc. Consumption robs us of opportunities for spontaneous ideas and interactions and makes us less focused.

What can parents and educators do?

• Start a dialogue about social media with your kids at a young age and create a Family Social Media Agreement WITH your students
• Ensure your students are equipped with the relevant skills to be able to navigate social media
• Lead by example and model positive behaviors for your child
• Teach students that social media can and should be utilized as a tool for good
• Ensure your children are equipped with the relevant skills to be able to navigate social media
• Consider joining Smart Social's VIP (Very Informed Program) to get videos that families or classes can watch together. These videos will start a healthy dialogue that will help them understand how to stay safe and be smart online
• Remind students that they can always come to you or a trusted adult if they ever need help
• Parents: consider waiting until your child has shown that they can handle the responsibility of using social media before letting them set up their first profile
• When you’re ready for your child to be online, read the SmartSocial.com Parent App Guide page to learn more about the Green, Gray, and Red apps your students may want to be on and what you can do to help them stay safe on specific apps
• Learn more about parental control options for different devices: Parental Control on Student Devices: What Parents & Educators Need to Know

What age should a student have their own smart device?

All families have different communication needs and every student is unique in how they are able to manage being responsible for making safe decisions online. Here are our recommendations and resources for your family to consider when making this decision:

Age 0-6: Kid-designed tablets with age-appropriate apps only ‍

• Screen time limits: 15-30 minutes per session

Ages 7-12: If your student needs to communicate with family (co-parenting, etc), consider a non-smartphone/cell watch with only call/text functions. Create a family social media and smart device contract‍

• Screen time limits: 30-45 minutes per session‍

‍Age 13-14: Smartphone with “Green apps” installed 

• Screen time limits: 20-60 minutes per session‍

‍Age 13-15: Use your student’s projects and passions to build a personal online portfolio/website with parents. Then create posts/videos on the green zone apps as an extension of their personal brand

‍Age 15-16: Publish the portfolio as a website so it improves your student’s Google results‍‍‍

Age 17: Colleges should be able to find a positive online footprint for your student so they can shine

What age should a student access social media?

Ages 0-13: Should not be on social media

Age 9-12: Social media agreement listing accounts, login and password information, and family rules for what can be shared and what cannot be shared online

Age 13-15: Build a personal portfolio and start putting positive photos online. Then post on green zone apps as an extension of the student’s personal brand

Age 15-16: Publish the portfolio as a website so it improves your student’s Google results‍

‍Age 17: Colleges should be able to find a positive online footprint for your student

Additional resources for parents, students, & educators

How to Use Screen Time Productively

The Impact of Screen Time on Motivation

Sneaky Ways TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are Pulling Kids in and Making Them Numb

Screen Time Tips for Better Sleep

Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time

Conclusion

Society’s obsession with social media isn’t going away any time soon. It’s the job of parents and educators to teach students about these negative effects before problems emerge.

If you need help talking with your students about the dangers of social media and how they can use it in a positive way, we have some talking points for parents and educators here.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or call 911 immediately. If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text HOME to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.

Hear advice from an expert on the effects of social media on mental health for teens

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