Being a teenager has always been a difficult phase. It’s a time when young people are figuring out who they are, building relationships, and navigating intense peer pressure. But today, social media adds an entirely new layer to these challenges.
The docuseries Social Studies by filmmaker Lauren Greenfield dives into the lives of teens in Los Angeles, showing how their phones and social media platforms have become inseparable from their daily lives. This five-part series allows teens to speak for themselves, revealing the highs and lows of growing up in the digital age.
The Positive Side of Social Media
Social media isn’t all bad. For many teens, it serves as a source of connection, creativity, and validation.
1. Finding Connection:
Teens use social media to stay in touch with friends and feel included. Whether it’s chatting in group texts, following social trends, or sharing memes, their phones help them feel less isolated. Teens often describe social media as their lifeline to their social circles.
2. Creative Expression:
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow teens to showcase their creativity. They can post videos, share art, and express their thoughts in ways that would’ve been harder to do in pre-digital times. It’s a space for them to experiment with who they are and try out different identities.
3. Validation and Support:
Adolescence is a time when emotions run high, and teens often feel misunderstood. Social media can provide comfort by showing them they’re not alone. They can find content and communities that mirror their experiences, whether it’s dealing with insecurities or finding a group that shares their interests.
The Downsides: Pressure and Addiction
However, the benefits come at a cost. Teens admit that social media can create a cycle of validation-seeking, addiction, and mental health struggles.
1. Pressure to Perform:
Social media has transformed popularity into something measurable: likes, shares, and followers. Teens feel pressure to maintain an online presence and to appear perfect. When they don’t receive enough validation, it can hurt their self-esteem. As Greenfield notes, the pressure to “go viral” or be liked by millions can overwhelm teens, amplifying their insecurities.
2. Addictive Behavior:
Social media apps are designed to keep users engaged. Teens often feel the need to scroll endlessly, post frequently, or respond instantly to messages. This leads to what some experts describe as “phone addiction,” where teens feel like they can’t function without constantly checking their devices.
3. Impact on Mental Health:
Constant exposure to filtered photos and carefully curated lives can make teens compare themselves to unrealistic standards. For some, this triggers feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, or depression. Experts have linked heavy social media use to increased rates of mental health issues, particularly in teenage girls.
Why Do Teens Turn to Social Media?
Experts like clinical counselor Brandys Evans explain that teens use social media to cope with the awkwardness and uncertainty of adolescence. Phones become a way to:
– Distract from emotional discomfort: Teens find relief in funny videos, memes, or engaging content that takes their minds off challenges like school stress or social anxiety.
– Explore identity:During this stage of life, teens are trying to figure out who they are. Social media lets them “try on” different identities by mimicking influencers, experimenting with styles, or expressing their personalities.
– Feel connected:Whether it’s knowing what friends are up to or staying informed about trends, social media gives teens a sense of belonging.
What Can Parents Do to Help?
Instead of simply trying to control teens’ screen time, experts suggest parents take a more understanding and proactive approach. Here’s how:
1. Be Curious, Not Critical:
Ask your teen why they use social media. What do they enjoy about it? What makes them stressed? By understanding their reasons, parents can have better conversations about healthy usage.
2. Teach Phone Responsibility:
Help teens develop boundaries, such as avoiding phones during family meals or before bedtime. Make it a shared effort, so it doesn’t feel like punishment.
3. Create Phone-Free Spaces:
Encourage balance by designating certain areas or times as phone-free zones. Schools, for example, have started implementing phone bans to minimize distractions and create healthier habits.
4. Set a Positive Example:
Teens often mimic their parents’ behavior. If parents are constantly on their phones, it’s harder to enforce rules or encourage meaningful offline activities.
5. Focus on Connection:
Social media often fills a gap when teens feel disconnected from their families. Spending quality time together and having open conversations can make a huge difference.
Big Picture Solutions
Some countries and regions are taking larger-scale steps to address social media’s impact. For example:
– School Policies:Many Canadian provinces now limit phone use in schools to reduce distractions.
– Age Restrictions: Australia is introducing a law to ban social media for kids under 16, requiring platforms to verify users’ ages or face heavy fines.
While these measures help, experts like Evans emphasize that education is just as important as regulation. Teens need guidance to understand how social media works and how to use it responsibly, rather than being punished or completely restricted.
Final Thoughts
Social media is a double-edged sword for teens. It offers connection, creativity, and validation but also creates pressure, addiction, and mental health challenges. By understanding teens’ needs and building open, supportive relationships, parents can help them navigate this digital landscape in healthier ways.
The ultimate takeaway from Social Studies is that social media isn’t just a distraction; it’s a tool teens use to make sense of their world. The goal isn’t to ban it but to teach teens how to balance it with their offline lives.
