How much is too much social media use: A Q&A with Mitch Prinstein, PhD

Keeping up to speed on social media platforms can be difficult for parents and caregivers. Trying to filter the extraordinary amount of content your kids are exposed to online can feel impossible. Because of this, APA recommends teens develop social media literacy skills before they begin using social media and receive ongoing reminders to help reinforce these skills.

[Related: Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth]

Social media platforms, schools, and parents can all play a role in teaching social media literacy skills. APA recommends social media literacy training should cover a variety of areas that are directly related to the science on adolescent social media use and mental health. Related to APA’s Health Advisory on Adolescent Social Media Use, here are answers from APA Chief Science Officer Mitch Prinstein, PhD, to frequently asked questions about social media literacy. His answers are based on hundreds of studies on tens of thousands of teens conducted around the world over the last decade.

1. Does social media mirror the real world?

Social media is different from real life. Help teens remember that likes, comments, or posts may not represent what most people think. Posts or opinions expressed may not reflect the majority of people in your community.

2. How do I know when information online is true?

Social media is filled with information that is inaccurate or deliberately designed to mislead people. Both misinformation and disinformation spread easily online. We can be fooled into believing what we see even when we don’t realize it. Studies show that mis- and disinformation are more likely to be reposted than factually accurate information, so we are probably exposed to something false more frequently than we realize.

Talk to your child about how to judge whether a source is reliable and trustworthy. The online game getbadnews.comopens in new window, developed by psychological scientists, teaches players how to recognize the tactics people use to spread false information online. Another resource, spotthetroll.orgopens in new window, was developed by psychological scientists to teach kids how to recognize real social media users from bots.

3. What does a like really mean?

Sometimes we like a post just to be nice. That’s important to remember because we may be misled by posts that have many likes. In fact, some of those likes may not even be from real people.

Science shows when we see a post with many likes, we are more likely to like and believe it. Some research shows our brain reacts differently to posts with more likes, which can influence us even if we don’t realize it. It is important to remember likes do not always mean people agree with what they see.

4. What is too much social media use?

Spending many hours online engaged in healthy behavior, such as talking honestly with friends or learning from credible sources, may not be all bad. But about 50% of teens report at least one sign of problematic social media use including:

• An inability to stop even when they want to
• Social media use interfering with their daily routines
• Going out of one’s way or lying to maintain social media use
• Problems with schoolwork or relationships because of social media use

Help teens be aware of these signs of problematic social media use and help them reduce their time online if needed.

[Related: Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults]

5. Which tools on social media platforms are safest?

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.

6. How do I help prevent conflicts on social media?

Teach teens to recognize their role in cyberbullying and online hate. Acting disrespectfully or hurtfully to others just to gain likes or followers can cause serious harm to victims. Similarly, liking others’ cyberhate posts does harm. Studies show this kind of communication not only hurts victims but also other users who witness cyberhate online.

Talk to your child about recognizing examples of cyberbullying, such as posting or sending hurtful or embarrassing messages, encouraging harm, or using digital technology to make others feel excluded. Encourage teens to talk to you or another adult if they witness cyberbullying. It’s also important to talk to your child about kindness and the seriousness of engaging in cyberbullying behavior themselves.

[Related: Why young brains are especially vulnerable to social media]

7. How can I encourage my child to not compare themselves to what they see online?

It is a normal, human trait to believe what we see. It is also normal to compare ourselves to others. Online, it has become possible to do this a lot more than we used to. For teens who are still developing a stable sense of self-esteem, this can be potentially dangerous. Young people who use social media to compare people’s appearance or seek feedback about their own personal photos are at increased risk for poorer body image, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms, particularly among girls.

Help your child understand people are selective about sharing only what they want you to see online, giving a curated view of their lives and appearance. Many photos and videos are manipulated with filters or doctored with editing tools. Yet, even when people know about those tools, their first instinct is usually to trust the content they’re viewing as true and accurate. Youth and adults need to override those automatic thoughts, and continually remind themselves that what they see online isn’t always real.

8. What if I see online discrimination?

The online community often reflects the world we live in. Unfortunately, this includes discrimination, prejudice, hate speech, and bullying. Teach children to critique racist messages and recognize online structural racism. Research shows young people who can critically evaluate racist content experience fewer mental illness symptoms when they witness race-related traumatic events online. Every teen has the chance to help all feel equal and valued by the choices they make online.

9. How can I talk about mental health safely?

It’s natural to have questions about mental health. However, teens need to be taught to seek information only from licensed, trained mental health care providers, credible health agencies, or associations representing those with appropriate training. Help teens remember to ask whether there is any scientific proof to support what they are learning online. Help them understand why we need evidence before we make health care decisions.

10. Why does social media exist?

Adolescents should understand that most social media companies are designed to earn profits. They do so by collecting data about their users. Discuss with your teen how these companies can collect and store information about everything they view, click, or post. Those data can be used and shared by companies in ways that are hard even for adults to fully understand. To keep users engaged, social media companies design features including like buttons, endless scrolling, and autoplay videos that make it very hard to step away. Social media also capitalizes on adolescents’ needs for social connection. It is designed to drive or reward certain online behaviors. Youth should understand some social media features may, at times, drive them toward useful information, but at other times may create a risk to teens’ psychological health.

Social media literacy isn’t something anyone can learn in a single conversation. Think of it as a series of discussions that will evolve as your child grows and technology evolves. Check in periodically to talk about social media and look for signs that it may be harming their physical or psychological well-being. Let your teen know they can come to you for support if they have concerns about content they’re seeing online or if they’re struggling with excessive social media use. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can help your child develop a healthy and positive relationship with social media.

Get more social media advice for parents. To learn more about the research behind these recommendations, see APA’s Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence.