We’ve all been there.—one moment, you’re checking your phone for a quick update, and the next thing you know, an hour has passed in a blur of endless posts.
Social media addiction is real. If you’re so addicted to the platform, imagine how tempting it is for teens who’ve grown up with devices practically glued to their hands. A bit of screen time isn’t bad. But it certainly is a problem when your teen can’t stop mindlessly scrolling through memes and videos.
Will, one of the students at Media City’s University Technical College, spent 31 hours last week using social media apps in early June. His addiction to social media might appear as a shocker. But sadly, this is the story of most teens.
How do you help your teen break free from the scrolling trap? Well, there are several ways. We’ll discuss some of them here. But first, let’s take a look at the impact of social media addiction on teens.
Teens and Social Media Addiction: What’s the Impact?
Social media addiction can lead to some pretty serious downsides for teens. Here’s a look at some of the negative effects of excessive use of social media:
1. Body Image Concerns
Katie, Great Neck, NY, admits that social media affects her body image. Beautiful people aside, she blamed TikTok’s “That Girl” trend and “The Big Bank Challenge” for fuelling body image issues. Those trends have made her wonder why she doesn’t have a tiny, hourglass waist or a flat, toned stomach despite healthy eating and exercising.
Filtered and photoshopped images that teens come across on platforms like Instagram also fuel unhealthy body image perceptions.
2. Mental Health Issues
In the spring of 2023, Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, released an advisory that shed light on the effects of social media on youth’s mental health. It revealed that the risk of poor mental health outcomes was doubled among teens who spent over three hours on social media.
Comparing themselves negatively to artfully curated images, the pressures of fitting in and seeking validation can foster anxiety and depression in teens. Social media addiction, TruLaw states, can also lead to self-harm and low self-esteem.
Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, has announced a lawsuit against social media companies for fueling the youth mental health crisis. Dozens of other states, ranging from Washington to West Virginia, have filed social media addiction lawsuits.
States, in the larger 233-page suit, accuse Meta of using powerful and unprecedented technologies to lure, engage, and eventually trap young people.
3. Poor Academic Performance
UD Associate Professor Mellissa Gordon discovers a link between frequent social media use and reduced academic performance among early teens.
When teens spend hours scrolling through feeds or engaging in online conversations, they spend less time studying or completing assignments. Even if they sit down to study, the temptation to check notifications or messages can interrupt their focus. Thus, they struggle to keep up with their schoolwork and score lower grades.
3 Ways You Can Help Your Teen Break Free From the Scrolling Trap
Here are practical steps you can take to help your teen break free from the scrolling trap.
1. Encourage Offline Hobbies
Engaging in offline activities like art, sports, or gardening can help your teen escape the digital vortex. Encourage them to have a fulfilling activity outside of the digital world. Not only will they find joy and fulfillment, but they will also learn valuable life skills.
Shifting their focus away from the screens onto something tangible and meaningful can lead to better mental health.
2. Introduce Them to Digital Detoxes
Many adults are turning to phone-free travel to avoid scrolling and notification anxiety. The global search interest for “digital detox retreat” has surged by 50% over the last year.
Break the cycle of constant screen time by introducing your teen to digital detoxes. A digital detox, put simply, involves taking a break from the screen for either a few hours, a whole day, or a weekend.
Traveling is a great way to escape the constant digital barrage. Send your teen to hiking or camping trips. You can also do something fun together as a family, like visit a museum or just play a board game.
3. Create Tech-Free Zones and Times
The goal behind creating a tech-free zone is simple: to tear your teen’s eyes away from the screen.
Designate a no-phone zone in your home. You can, for instance, make the dining room table or the bathroom a no-phone zone. Alternatively, you can set time frames when screens are off-limits. Say, after the clock strikes 10 p.m., no one is allowed to use their phones. That way, your teen can settle down for the night.
Policing their every move or taking away their devices won’t help your teen escape the cycle of mindless scrolling. But guiding them toward a healthier relationship with technology will. Help your child find a balance by practicing mindful screen use. Rest assured that they will help them take control of their screen time and rediscover the joys of the offline world.
