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While you may have heard people describe social media as being “addictive”, most experts stop short of characterizing social media as addictive in a clinical sense. In medical terms, addiction is currently reserved for substances (like drugs), rather than behaviors (like gambling or internet use). Most experts agree that social media, when used effectively and within limits, can be helpful and essential to everyday life – something we cannot say about addictions to drugs or alcohol. For situations where social media use interferes with an individual’s ability to lead a healthy life, many experts prefer the term “Problematic Internet Media Use.” Like any illness, addiction is the subject of ongoing clinical research, it’s possible that future findings may expand the definition to include social media and internet use.
Most experts agree that social media and mental health issues, like depression, are linked through a process called “mediation.” Mediation is a clinical term for when a behavior causes an outcome, and that outcome leads to a secondary outcome. In the case of social media and depression, overusing social media can lead to a teen negatively comparing themself to others, and this negative comparison can put them at increased risk for depression. In this case, negative comparison is the mediating factor – or link – between social media use and depression. Mediation helps explain why social media is associated with a wide variety of mental health issues – and why it’s difficult to predict an individual’s response to social media. Overusing social media can lead to a diverse range of mediating factors, including social isolation, interrupted sleep, and seeing dangerous content – and each of these experiences can lead to different mental health outcomes.
Talking to kids about social media is hard. Many parents have tried – and failed – to have successful conversations with their kids about social media. And others just don’t know where to start. Follow our how-to series with Dr. Stuart Ablon, child and adolescent psychologist at Mass General Hospital. Dr. Ablon will teach you how to have a productive conversation with your child – it only takes a few minutes to learn, and you’ll walk away with a custom script for your conversation.
Federal law restricts most social media to users aged 13 and older. US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy advises that children stay off social media until age 16. While many experts say to wait as long as possible, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Get the guide to determine if your child is ready.
Set your child up for success – before they get on social media.
Resources and guides for monitoring social media activity, preventing problematic use, and maintaining family boundaries.
Learn how to navigate your child’s concerning behaviors.
Resources and guides for managing your child’s social media use.
