Tips to Help Teens Reduce Social Media Usage

According to statistics, most kids are spending three and a half hours a day on social
media. This is alarming because kids who use social media more than three hours a
day risk doubling their mental health issues which include anxiety and depression.
To reduce social media usage in this era of technology, here are some quick tips
that can help your teen to create healthy boundaries and balanced usage.

1. Firstly, parents or guardians should work with teens to establish specific times
for social media usage, which should be managed to ensure compliance. As a
rule of thumb, teens should avoid social media usage during mealtime and
bedtime, which can improve one’s focus and quality of sleep respectively.

2. You can help your teen set priorities and clear goals for their time. They can
identify non-social media activities that they find fulfilling and schedule time to
engage and enjoy themselves accordingly. As they focus on their interests,
their social media usage will decrease.

3. Teens should be encouraged to cultivate valuable communication and social
skills as part of their development and readiness for life. Talk to your teen and
help them to understand the value of healthy interpersonal relationships without
the crutch of technology. Family gatherings can be used as a safe platform to
encourage teens to express themselves and build genuine connections and
intimacy with their parents and siblings.

4. Socialize 2-3 hours before 2 hours of screen time

5. Place consistent limits on the time spent. Be sure when using social media that
it does not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity, homework and
school hygiene.

6. When your teen observes the healthy, responsible use of social media by their
parents, they will be positively influenced. Leading by example is powerful and
creates the foundation for effective parent/ teen partnership that leads to
positive, long-lasting results.

7. Be sure to socialize with friends and family. Some socialization tips and hobbies
are arts, crafts, fishing, sports, Lego, kites, collecting, cooking, zoos, music,
cards, board games, and museums.

8. Here are some links with more helpful information.
Screentime – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/screen-time/age/teens
Social media -https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media/age/teens
Cell phone – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cellphone-parenting
HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan – Be sure to have a 1-2 hour gap of no electronics
before bedtime.

9. Here’s a couple of videos on Gaming/Electronics Disorder

Here’s Jim West Fortnite Addiction News Interview –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B6_KlJQ4KQ look at first video on the page
Here’s Jim West interview on Jan 1 2018 on Gaming Disorder –

Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make technology so addictive are
disconnecting themselves from the internet. Paul Lewis –
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-
valley-dystopia

Author: Kendra Collie, MS