Teen phone use: Tips to fix heavy use

Are you curious about what your teenager is doing online when you’re not around? A recent report from the Pew Research Center reveals that most teens are spending a significant amount of time on social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. In fact, almost half of 13- to 17-year-olds are online almost constantly, which experts believe is excessive.

The survey found that nine out of 10 teens use YouTube, while six out of 10 use TikTok and Instagram, and 55 percent use Snapchat. Additionally, 32 percent of teens use Facebook, and 23 percent use WhatsApp. While social media can be a fun way for teens to connect with friends and engage in current events, excessive use can have negative effects on their physical and mental well-being.

As the holiday season approaches, teens may be spending even more time online. So, what can parents do to address this issue?

Determining the appropriate amount of time for teens to spend on social media is not a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on what they are doing on these platforms. Dr. Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology at the American Psychological Association, suggests that parents consider the content their teens are consuming and how it affects their well-being. Are they obsessively checking for likes and comments? Are they comparing themselves to others? These are important questions to ask in order to set reasonable time limits.

Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist, advises parents to engage their teens in conversations about their online activities. By understanding how social media makes them feel and whether they are part of positive online communities, parents can help establish healthy boundaries.

In addition to monitoring social media use, it’s essential for teens to engage in offline activities. Encouraging physical exercise, adequate sleep, and face-to-face interactions with friends and family are crucial for their overall well-being. Setting a phone curfew and creating phone-free zones during family time can help teens develop a healthy balance between online and offline activities.

Ultimately, parents play a crucial role in guiding their teens’ online behavior and fostering a healthy relationship with technology. By staying involved, asking questions, and setting limits, parents can help teens navigate the digital world responsibly. It’s important to have open and ongoing conversations about online behavior and ensure that teens have time for other important activities in their lives.