A single scroll, like, or share can spark joy or ignite controversy. Researchers are still determining the impact of social media on mental health. For pediatricians and other healthcare specialists, navigating social media usage with parents and their families can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope. Dr. Chad Rodgers, AFMC’s chief medical officer and board-certified pediatrician at Little Rock Pediatric Clinic, shares expert advice and personal wisdom to help you have more constructive, non-judgmental conversations about social media with your patients. Whether you’re a seasoned pediatrician or a newly minted healthcare professional, get ready to arm yourself with knowledge and strategies that make a difference in the digital well-being of the families you serve.
Excessive Social Media Use Can Cause Behavioral Health Issues
Most often in pediatric settings, children and teens who use social media excessively show signs of withdrawal and increased depression and anxiety. “Social media was created to better connect us all,” Dr. Rodgers says. “But what we have seen among teens is that it has caused increased disconnection and isolation.”
Teens often see their friends “living their best lives” on social media without the context of everything else going on behind the scenes. This can make them feel excluded or like they are not living as fulfilling of a life as their friends. For adolescents who have mental health issues, this can quickly take them down a road to self-harm or even suicide.
Social Media Usage Assessments
Pediatricians often perform depression and anxiety screenings at wellness visits. “If results from these screenings are significant, it may warrant a discussion with the patient and their parents about social media use,” Dr. Rodgers advises. “We should talk about safe social media use just like we talk to teenagers about seatbelts and distracted driving.”
When screening, it’s important to ask how many hours of screen time the teen has per day outside of school or work. “Pediatricians typically recommend limiting that time to no more than 1 to 2 hours per day. Parents should also discuss and agree to self-limits for the entire family.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends promoting the healthy and safe use of social media and the importance of developing a family media plan, which can be a roadmap for families to discuss how and when to put the phone down. “At any visit where you are discussing health concerns like anxiety, depression, weight gain, or sleeping difficulties, social media and tablet/phone usage should be a part of that discussion,” Dr. Rodgers suggests.
In these discussions with patients and their families, try to frame the positives of technology use. The benefits of technology outweigh the negative, but when it impairs our ability to think, sleep, play, and interact with others, it may be time to re-evaluate our usage of technology and identify changes we can all make to cut down on screen time.
Resources for Parents and Providers
“Websites like healthychildren.org have lots of great articles on healthy technology and media usage. You can also learn more about Social Media and Youth Mental Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The American Psychological Association’s Keeping Teens Safe on Social Media article is a great read, too,” Dr. Rodgers says.
“I think we generally think that as medical professionals, we can post good medical advice and tips to stay healthy online, and many people access and use that information properly,” he adds. However, there is also a lot of misinformation and disinformation on the Internet created to cause harm.”
Teenagers don’t know the difference. If they stumble upon misinformation online, it can affect the algorithm of their search engine or social media site, leading to more misinformation.
What Social Media Platforms Are Safe for Kids to Use?
Some platforms are better than others. However, parents should still monitor their children’s use of any platform.
“I personally use Facebook and Instagram a lot, so I need to evaluate and better regulate my own social media use,” Dr. Rodgers says. “Some platforms are less regulated and may quickly lead to misinformation and disinformation if you go looking.”
It’s also important to remember to fact-check information on social media with trusted Internet sources. If the story is inconsistent, be careful reading and sharing it.
Many social media platforms include a parental restrictions feature. While these are useful, they are not 100% effective.
“Parents should teach and model appropriate use for their children,” Dr. Rodgers says. Most of the research supports advising parents to prohibit their children aged 13 and below from using social media. You must also consider the child’s development and maturity level before allowing them full, unrestricted access to social media.”
Even when the child is over age 13, as most research suggests, parents should still monitor their teen’s use. There are still people out there who use social media to exploit and endanger children and young adults.
Humans Are Hardwired to Connect
Technology and social media have benefits; there is no doubt about that. Technology is interwoven into our society, and, for some, life can be difficult to navigate without it. The Internet provides us with a broader worldview and diverse perspectives right at our fingertips. It helps us learn, plan trips, complete financial transactions, and find our way home. It helps parents see where their kids are in real-time. It allows kids to reach out quickly when they need help from a trusted adult.
“Considering these benefits, we need to teach and continue to create new ways to use the Internet and social media appropriately, including modeling when not to use it,” Dr. Rodgers says.
Humans are hardwired to connect. In-person connections promote healthy social and emotional development and allow children to grow and develop into healthy individuals. In the end, we all need to take a pause from social media from time to time. Put the phone down, sit, and talk with those present in our lives. It is one of the most important human activities.
{slider title="Meet Dr. Chad Rodgers"}
Dr. Rodgers is the chief medical officer at AFMC and a board-certified pediatrician at Little Rock Pediatric Clinic. Dr. Rodgers received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he completed his internship and residence at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, serving as pediatric chief resident. He has served as president of the Arkansas Medical Society and the Arkansas chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. His areas of interest include pediatric development, positive and adverse childhood experiences, social determinants of health, and health literacy.
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