Summer can lead to increased social media use among children and teens as school schedules relax and more time is spent on phones and other devices.
WellSpan pediatrician Dr. Caroline Hall said excessive social media use can contribute to cyberbullying, sleep disruption, obesity, delayed social skills, behavioral problems, depression and anxiety.
A 2019 American Medical Association study found that teens who spent three hours per day on social media had twice the risk of depression. A Gallup poll found teens spend nearly five hours per day on social media.
A Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab survey found that almost half of adolescents said social media made them feel worse about their bodies. A Pew Research Center survey found that 74% of teens felt happy and 72% felt peaceful when they did not have their smartphones with them.
Hall recommends that parents model healthy phone habits and avoid regularly checking their devices while spending time with their children. Parents may also consider coordinating phone rules with other families whose children are the same age.
Families can place phones in a central location one hour before bedtime and establish phone-free activities, including meals, family gatherings, game nights and sporting or musical events.
During vacations, Hall recommends limiting phones to practical uses such as directions or booking activities rather than using them for entertainment.
Families can also create a media plan outlining limits on screen time, hours of use and phone-free activities. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a family media planning tool.
Parents who notice behavioral changes, including withdrawal from activities their child previously enjoyed, should contact the child’s pediatrician or family doctor.
Photo credits to WellSpan Health
