During an interview with The Verge, CEO of Meta – the Social Metaverse Company, who owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp – Mark Zuckerberg, stated that “the majority of the high-quality research out there suggests that there’s no causal connection at a broad scale” between social media and poor teenage mental health. 

Whilst it is argued that causal relationships such as these are difficult to identify, it is often suggested that social media could have both positive and negative effects on mental health. In the interview, Zuckerberg implies that Meta has played no part in the decline of teen mental health, saying, “You can play a role in trying to make something better even if the thing wasn’t caused by you in the first place…” The CEO notes that the best approach to tackle concerns with teens’ mental health is to give parents more control over their children’s social media accounts. 

In efforts to support this, and encourage safe expression online, Instagram announced that they’d be moving all under-18s onto a “Teen Account” which is more private and restrictive. Features include restricted direct messaging, alerts to take breaks and a ‘sleep mode’, which silences notifications between 10 pm and 7 am. To tweak these settings, teens under 16 will have to ask their parents for permission, and parents will have to use supervisory tools to apply these changes. Meta also launched their ‘Family Centre’ which allows supervisors of teenage social media accounts to see insights into how they use apps and set restrictions. 

With more emphasis being placed on social media parental controls to help counter the teenage mental health crisis, how can parents navigate conversations with their children? 

How to talk to children about social media and mental health 

According to the BBC, 91% of children own a smartphone by the age of 11, with the majority being on social media. When parents are faced with the decision to allow children to set up social media accounts, it can feel conflicting. Social media can be a great space to connect with like-minded people, form and maintain friendships and receive support from peers, but there’s no denying its potential risks, too. 

Ultimately, social media is neither bad nor good, but it comes down to how it's used. So if your teen has broached the conversation with you (or you suspect they already have social media accounts), what’s the best way to navigate the discussion? 

Start the conversation early 

It’s better to approach the conversation with your teen sooner rather than later. This helps to establish boundaries early on. Encourage an open dialogue with your child about who should contact them on social media and what kind of security parameters they feel make sense. If you have an older teen and suspect they’re already on social media, approach conversations with curiosity - ask them how they use it and how it makes them feel. Try to avoid a ‘telling’ approach, and instead use a calm, neutral tone in discussions. 

Make conversations a normal part of daily life 

Conversations around social media should be considered as normal as asking what your child did at school. Try to avoid quizzing your teen and instead, regularly check in with them for a minute or two. This can make all the difference and reduce the likelihood of conversations ending awkwardly. Some parents believe that discussing potentially tricky topics can be more effective when they are in the car. Findings suggest that adopting side-on conversations feels more friendly versus face-to-face, which might come across as confrontational. 

Explain boundaries 

The boundaries you might choose to set will usually depend on your child’s age. Initially, you may want to have more control over social media apps which can be relaxed as your teen gets older. When implementing boundaries on your teens’ social media usage, it can be helpful to explain your reasoning behind certain restrictions. This can help them develop a healthy relationship with social media, and prevent them from developing potentially unhealthy habits when they get older.

For example, you might agree that they don’t use social media (or devices in general) before going to bed because it may impact their sleep. Restricting usage during school or when studying can limit distractions and improve concentration. You can also set timers for social media use, but it can be more helpful to allow your teen to take responsibility for this for themselves so it feels more collaborative rather than defensive. Try to strike a balance by also setting out times when they are free to use social media. 

Take a look at our 4 healthy habits for social media.

Be a good role model 

Your own social media and internet use can impact the relationship that your child can go on to have with technology. Wired magazine suggests opening up about how you use social media with your teen to teach them about consent and privacy, such as by asking “Is it OK if I post this picture of us?” You can also talk to them about content that you’ve seen that might affect how you feel - happy or sad. If you’ve put boundaries in place for your teen, such as no phones at the dinner table or before bed, try to follow these yourself to avoid sending conflicting messages. 

Discuss positive and negative online behaviour 

Talk to your teen about the right and wrong way to use social media and how to identify signs of negative behaviours, such as cyberbullying, whether they see it or are a victim of it. Remind them never to post anything that they wouldn’t want their teachers, grandparents or future employers to see. Encourage them to begin to identify what content serves them well, and what doesn’t. 

In an increasingly digitally connected future, social media can be really beneficial for teens. It can open them up to opportunities and resources, support their learning and personal development and allow them to have fun, but it’s important that it continues to be used in a safe and positive way that doesn’t come at a cost to their mental health. 

Want more support? Take a look at these resources below, or reach out to a coach or counsellor if you think your teen's wellbeing has been affected by social media.