Adolescents and Social Media

New Generation Divide

For many parents and grandparents, the constant connection of their children and grandchildren to music players, cell phones, video game consoles, and computers remains puzzling.

Nowadays, when teenagers bring an apple to school, it’s more likely to be a cellphone than a piece of fruit. Often referred to as the “iGeneration,” these teens have become significantly more proficient with computers and social media than their parents.

This gap in technological understanding has led to a new generation divide. Parents can bridge this gap by becoming familiar with social media themselves and by guiding their children while establishing boundaries around social media use for their tweens and teens.

Understanding Social Media

The term "social media" has various interpretations online. While it is commonly used for marketing purposes, Ron Jones of Search Engine Watch highlights its primary use among kids:

According to Jones, social media represents "a category of online media where people are talking, participating, sharing, networking, and bookmarking." Most platforms promote interaction, feedback, voting, comments, and sharing among all interested users.

As emphasized by Jones, social media is a two-way street that helps individuals remain "linked to other sites, resources, and people," with “staying connected” being a vital aspect for teenagers.

Time Spent Online

While it can be difficult to quantify the exact amount of time children spend online, various surveys provide insights into their online behaviors.

Norton Online Family Report (2010)

• 2,800 children aged 8-17 and 7,000 parents across 14 countries surveyed
• Average daily online time: 1.6 hours
• 48% of children reported they felt they spent too much time online

Roiworld’s Teens & Social Networks Study (June 2010)

• 600 teens (ages 13-17) in the U.S. surveyed
• Average daily online time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• 80% of their online time was dedicated to social networking sites

Where do kids spend their time?

• 90% of teenagers have created profiles on social networking platforms
• Facebook and YouTube are the most frequented sites among teens
• 93% of Canadian children engage online mainly to play games

Who engages socially?
A 2009 survey by Amanda Lenhart from the Pew Research Center indicates that age and gender affect teens’ likelihood of having a social media profile:

• 86% of girls aged 15-17
• 69% of boys aged 15-17
• 38% of children aged 12-14

Teen Communication Methods

• 51% of teens who own cellphones rely on them as their primary means of communication
• 42% of teens using social media sites send daily messages through platforms like Facebook

A Different Socializing Experience

Many parents use computers daily for work, social, and entertainment tasks, and some may even have their own Facebook accounts. However, parents often struggle to comprehend their children’s need for constant connection through social media.

While visiting the mall might still be popular among teens, the trend of hanging out on social networking sites has become a significant method for them to build social bonds. Through social media, teenagers are forging their identities and understanding their place within their communities and beyond.

Benefits:
Teens leverage social media to connect with friends, make new acquaintances, share photos, play games, blog, assist with homework, and advocate for causes they believe in.

A study published in Pediatrics (2011) found that teens use social media constructively to:

Access Health Information:
Teens utilize social media to seek out health-related information, ranging from sexually transmitted diseases to mental health issues. Those with chronic health conditions can find support networks online.

It’s crucial for parents to discuss health topics with their teens to help them navigate the vast array of information available on the Internet. Teens must be guided in ensuring that the information they access is accurate and trustworthy.

Negative Effects:
Despite the advantages of social media, many parents are more aware of its potential downsides, particularly through news media. Some negative impacts associated with teens’ social media use include:

• Cyberbullying and online harassment
• Sexting
• "Facebook depression"
• Declining academic performance

(Refer to the glossary of social media terms for definitions of these terms.)

The Good and Bad of Social Media

Larry Rosen, a professor and former psychology chair at California State University, Dominguez Hills, conducts research on social media. He remarks, "From my research and that of others, I perceive the overall effect as both beneficial and detrimental."

According to him, certain studies indicate that increased Facebook activity correlates with signs of psychiatric issues such as narcissism, while also showing that having more friends on the platform predicts lower levels of depression.

Other research from his lab points to how Facebook can aid teens in practicing empathy and how shy teens may develop communication skills through online interactions. In summary, research is now beginning to reveal both the positive and negative aspects.

Rosen observes that the positive aspects of social media usage are beginning to outweigh the negatives, but he emphasizes that parents and educators need to actively promote the positives.

Obsession vs. Addiction

Parents who find it challenging to detach their teens from their devices may grapple with the idea that their child is addicted to technology.

Rosen suggests that rather than addiction, teens experience an obsession or compulsion to frequently check social media. This compulsion arises from a fear of missing out on happenings within their social circles.

For many teens, he explains, social media is not merely a part of life; it constitutes their entire social environment. Even when having verbal conversations with friends over the phone, teens feel the need to stay in tune with their social media landscape.

Parental Control Parameters

In light of fears regarding the adverse effects of social media, some parents lacking familiarity with it might consider restricting their teens’ access altogether. However, research indicates that kids tend to find other ways to access social media, be it at school, libraries, or friends’ homes.

The Norton Online Family Report revealed varying parental attitudes toward social media globally. In Canada and the U.S., 60% of parents believe they should have complete control over their children’s online activities, whereas Italian and Chinese parents advocate for granting children autonomy in their decisions.

Notably, the same report highlighted that children desire parental guidance on online matters and appreciate knowing they can reach out to their parents for help when online issues arise.

As communication methods evolve quickly, our children are part of the first generation growing up in an unceasingly connected world. Social media, whether embraced or criticized, is a reality in their lives that is here to stay.

When is the Right Age?

Social networking platforms like Facebook usually require users to be at least 13 years old (although Facebook is considering lowering this threshold). Experts in social media recommend that parents adhere to the 13-and-over guideline, but ultimately, parents should gauge when their child is prepared to navigate the social media landscape.

As social networking is still relatively new, researchers are beginning to investigate its long-term effects on mental wellbeing. Rosen notes that psychologists are divided on their views about Facebook’s impacts on teens.

“The media tends to emphasize the negatives while downplaying the positives,” he states. “I believe that future studies will reveal that the benefits to social development surpass the potential negative effects.”

Glossary of Social Media Terms

Familiarizing yourself with these terms can help you become savvy in social media.

• Cyberbullying: The use of digital media to share false, embarrassing, or hostile content about another individual.
• Facebook: The leading social networking site with over 900 million active monthly users globally, as reported by Facebook.
• Facebook depression: A condition thought to be associated with intense online interactions and reactions from peers.
• Follower: Individuals in a Twitter user’s social network, who can follow others and be followed back.
• Friend: Individuals in a Facebook user’s social circle.
• Sexting: The act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photos, or other digital media through mobile or computer devices.
• Social media: Any online platform that permits users to publish, share, and converse about content.
• Social Networking: Engaging with others in online communities like Facebook or YouTube.
• Tweetup: A spontaneous or organized meeting of individuals who use Twitter to discuss a specific topic (e.g., a sports event).
• Twitterverse: The collective community of individuals who utilize Twitter.

Popular Social Networking Sites for Teens

Tips for Social Media Safety

To help tweens and teens navigate the world of social media as safely as possible, parents can implement a few practical strategies.

It starts with parents exploring social media platforms for themselves. Just as we guide our teens to be safe drivers, we can model appropriate social media use.

Become Social Media Savvy

• Stay informed about social networking platforms popular among teens.
• Create your own Facebook account to monitor your teen’s online activity by adding them as a friend.
• If your teen is hesitant to accept you as a friend, give them a day to clean up their account, then review their friends, photos, and posts together. If friend requests aren’t possible, demand unrestricted access to their Facebook page.
• Use your browser’s History feature to track the websites your teen visits.

Establish Limits

• Ensure your teen utilizes privacy settings that restrict who can view their profile.
• Encourage your teen to limit friends to individuals they know personally and review this list together.
• Help your teen devise a screen name that avoids revealing personal details such as location, age, or gender.
• Discuss with your teen why confidentiality is crucial for information like phone numbers, addresses, and financial details.

Teach Online Etiquette

• Instruct teens to think carefully before posting photos and videos since they can remain online indefinitely.
• Encourage appropriate online language and respectful behavior.
• Advise teens to avoid sexual conversations online and to inform you if anyone approaches them inappropriately, even if they know the person.

Communication is Essential

Learn to communicate openly with your teen. By fostering an environment of trust and understanding regarding their experiences in the social media realm, they are more likely to approach you if they encounter unsettling situations online.

Conduct Weekly Family Meetings

• Rosen suggests establishing weekly family meetings. Dedicate 15 minutes before or after dinner to check in with your children about their recent online experiences.
• Begin discussions with questions like, “I heard about some kids being bullied on Facebook. Do you know anyone who has experienced that? What happened? How did they feel?”
• Listen actively to your teen’s responses with a nonjudgmental expression.
• Allow your teen to share their thoughts for at least five times longer than you do.
• Avoid criticizing your teen’s experiences; the goal is to cultivate trust and open dialogues.

Regular Family Dinners

• Aim to have family dinners at least four times a week with all members present.
• This can be a chance to catch up with each other by turning off mobile devices.
• If mobile device use is a distraction at mealtimes, consider allowing everyone to check their phones for one minute before the meal starts, then turn them off and place them face down on the table. Set an alarm for 15 minutes for uninterrupted family time. At the end of that time, allow a one-minute phone check, then reset for another 15 minutes of family interaction.