Creating healthy social media habits in adolescents and teens.

Healthy relationships in adolescence include connections with others characterized by social support, empathy, companionship, and emotional intimacy. Social media is at its best when it helps people foster these kinds of connections. Interacting with supportive peers can help kids and teens develop positive behaviors such as cooperation, empathy, and trust.

Encourage youth to use social media tools that will help depict themselves honestly and feel a true connection to others, such as direct messaging. Passive scrolling or simply liking a post without engaging at a deeper level does not foster psychologically healthy relationships.

Parents should also recognize kids may want to get information and support online to learn about sensitive topics related to their health or identity. These may be things they aren’t yet comfortable talking about with you. It’s important to balance parental monitoring with your adolescent’s appropriate needs for privacy. Discussing this balance with your child ahead of time can help them feel respected while allowing you to establish guidelines to keep them safe.

Here are 3 rules when discussing social media with adolescent's and teens:

When discussing social media with teens, parents can follow these strategies:

When discussing social media with teens, parents can follow these strategies:

1. Create an ongoing, open dialogue by sharing experiences and asking non-judgmental questions.

2. Have regular, casual conversations about social media pressures and authentic self-expression.

3. Maintain balance by staying involved in their offline activities while respecting the importance of online connections.