Whether you allow it, restrict it or try to avoid it, social media is part of our society and your teenagers are most likely using it. 

Social media is sometimes used to combat loneliness, but research suggests it might actually do the opposite. While triggering comparison with others, it can easily raise doubts about self-worth, cause negative body image and potentially lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. 

In this blog post, we want to examine more about the impact of social media and how it affects self-esteem, particularly in teenagers…

Your therapist in Sugar Land discusses when social media is a problem

When it impacts self-esteem. One major issue with social media is that it’s common for kids to feel bad about themselves and compare the “perfect pictures” and what they see online to who they are. All the pictures of perfect bodies, awesome vacations, and great-looking friends can fuel self-doubt. 

Some experts also worry that teens are more anxious and have lower self-esteem because of social media and texting because they miss out on things like body language, facial expression, etc. This can lead to more misunderstanding and hurt feelings.

And then there’s the need for acceptance. For peer approval and encouragement and the need to get as many “likes” and shares as possible. Today we see teens taking hundreds of photos and videos only to sift through them and pick out the best one possible. And if the likes don’t come in, it’s easy to take it personally. 

When it interferes with sleep. It’s common for social media to displace sleep and to be linked with poor sleep patterns. High social media users are more likely to fall asleep later and have trouble falling back to sleep if they wake up during the night. Lack of sleep impacts someone’s mood and can make regulating emotions harder. It is even linked to depression. The blue light from electronic screens is also known to interfere with sleep. 60% of adolescents check their phones in the hour before bedtime, resulting in one or more hour(s) less of sleep. 

When it breeds toxic behavior. Social media can breed toxic behavior such as narcissism, bullying, and cyberstalking. Social media can encourage self-obsession and lead people to become fixated on getting the perfect selfie or photo. It’s problematic when users become locked into a persona and “self-edit” what they share to fit this picture. Bullying and cyberstalking are also hard to avoid online. Your teen may receive negative comments, threats, cryptic messages, or even sexual innuendo from friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. ⅓ of adolescents have reported being bullied online.

Your therapist in Sugar Land discusses how parents can help

Parents can help by first setting a good example of how to use tech. Give your kids full attention when you’re with them. Establish tech-free zones in the house and tech-free hours. Limiting the amount of time you spend staring at a screen provides a healthy counterpoint to the tech-obsessed world, but more importantly, strengthens your parent-child bond which makes your kids feel more secure.

To help combat negative self-esteem and to build self-esteem outside of social media, get your kids involved in something they’re interested in. When a child feels good about what they can do instead of how they look doing it, they are happier. 

And lastly, encourage your teen to take what they see on social media with a grain of thought. Ask them questions like:

• Are your friends really who they portray online?

• Why does getting likes to feel good?

• Do you feel better or worse after being on social media?

• How and why do you use social media? 

Check-in regularly and take notice if your child is feeling down. Ask them if social media is impacting their mood or behavior. 

If you’re worried it is taking a toll on them, consider unplugging as a family. This means everyone (including parents) agrees to take a few days off of social media to detox and set goals. To spend time together and engage in other activities like reading a book, going on an outing, or calling a family member or friends (instead of looking them up online).

Volunteering or serving in the community can also combat low self-esteem. There is overwhelming evidence that shows that volunteering can give you a sense of self-purpose and increase self-esteem, reduce stress, and combat depression.

If you are worried about whether your child or teen is struggling with mental health, learn more about anxiety and depression during the teenage years here.

Follow our blog for more information and to learn more about how to communicate and work with a teenager that might be shutting you out. 

We are here to help your child identify and overcome common issues and struggles associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma and to increase self-esteem and body image. We are here to help them feel happier and more confident as they navigate through their pre-teen and adolescent years (which can be a challenge).