Is Social Media Affecting Your Teen's Self-Esteem?

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Most of what we see on social media is not completely real. Photos are altered, stories are told to make people look a certain way, difficulties are not shared. While this can affect adults, it is particularly damaging to teens because they are trying to create their identities and figure out where they fit in the world.

Here are 15 ways you can help combat the negative impact social media has on your teen:

  1. Go through your teen's feeds with them. Discuss who they follow and what messages they are receiving.

  2. Ask your teen how they feel about themselves after spending an hour on social media. 

  3. Take a social media fast together. Talk about what you both learned after.

  4. Talk about failure and what we can learn from it. They might not see it on social media, so talk about it openly and honestly.

  5. Help your teen find other interests. Give them opportunities to see other people (especially teens their age) engaging in real life.

  6. Discuss privacy issues. Does your teen know what is appropriate to share? Do they know what to do when they come across information someone else should not have shared?

  7. Talk about what your teen posts. How will it affect their friends' self-esteem?

  8. Ask for your teen's opinion on different apps and platforms. Choose which ones your family will use and which ones you won't.

  9. Model good body image. Talk positively about your own body and what it can do.

  10. Help your teen find and follow healthy people who display good body image.

  11. Do research with your teen on social media. Consider having them write reports to earn the right to use different platforms.

  12. Frequently set up times your teen can see friends in person. Host game nights, BBQ's, movie nights, and other activities often.

  13. Require that your teen only follow people they know, especially when they are getting started.

  14. Monitor your teen's social media accounts. Even if you don't do it often, make sure your teen knows that you have access. It might prevent them from getting in trouble! You can ease up as your teen earns the right to have more privacy.

  15. Discuss your teen's feelings about social media. Listen more than you talk and ask good, open-ended questions.

  16. Limit the amount of time they can spend on social media a day.

For a free PDF with these tips (and more) check out the files section on my Facebook group, Raising Inspired Teens. Print it out and discuss it with your teen soon!

Beau Sorensen