Just like parents, children and teenagers have unique relationships with digital media. If left to their own devices (literally), kids may develop poor digital habits that can contribute to mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety.
Personalization is built in to social media and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms as well as a design that encourages endless scrolling. So young kids especially need structure and limits to shape a healthy relationship with technology.
“That’s significant because their brains are still developing,” said Wallace Jackmon, PhD, Director of Psychology at Avera Behavioral Health. “Parents should ensure their children are using digital media in healthy ways from a very early age.”
Healthy Digital Media Guidelines for Families
Digital media impacts the well-being of families when there are no guidelines. This is where parents can help by setting boundaries to establish a healthy screentime balance.
Whether they’re in second grade or a high school senior, kids need the support of structure and strong relationships both offline and online.
Check how much time they’re on their devices.
There is an association between the time a kid spends on social media and their academic performance. That’s because if they’re too focused on social media, they likely aren’t focusing enough on homework and school projects.
“If your child’s grade point average is slipping, one of the first things I would look at is how much time they’re spending on social networking sites,” Jackmon said. “There’s a direct correlation to a grade point average dropping and lower self-esteem. Decreasing the time spent on social media sites can help.”
Setting a clear screentime limit, like an electronic curfew or time contract for social media and video games, is an example of a way to develop a healthy boundary.
Adjust settings or silence their phones during sleep and school time.
Text message and social media alerts can lead to interruptions if not deactivated or silenced. Constant incoming alerts create considerable pressure to be available 24/7 and contribute to a fear of missing out (also known as FOMO).
To help your child rest their mind or focus on schoolwork, erase the temptation of their phone completely. As the person who pays for the phone, you can turn it off for periods of time. Consider restricting their settings so they are only able to make emergency calls during certain hours.
Encourage them to have unplugged play in the real world.
Some tweens and teens may get so absorbed in the virtual world that they lose the drive to relate to social life in the real world.
“If kids are isolated, depressed or anxious, one of our primary interventions as clinicians is we want them to connect with other people. It’s called behavioral activation. We get them to become more active outside of their home, interacting with positive, constructive individuals or activities,” Jackmon said.
Get kids excited to go out and connect with family and friends. Set aside activities like bowling, raking leaves, riding bicycles or washing cars. If anything, you have an opportunity to gain attention when you have control and structure, such as during dinner time, chores or while on vacation.
Check in to see who they’re texting or interacting with online.
As their parent, you have the right to know who your child’s peers are. Just as you keep track of who they socialize with in person, you should see who they chat with digitally — which can be extremely important with online gaming sites and chat rooms.
Youth who are cyberbullied are more likely than their peers to think about and attempt suicide.
Check their online profiles for inappropriate posts from peers. If you see something concerning, open the dialogue with a discussion on healthy behavior.
Encourage engagement with quality, slow-moving content.
Encourage screen time with media that is more in-depth and slower paced. This helps aid kids (from ages 2-9) with developing stronger skills for making decisions, forming memories and communicating.
Watching fast-moving content can have a hypnotic effect on kids — especially at a young age. Slow-moving videos or interactive media gives them time to stop, think and absorb.
There’s a wide variety of quality, educational content out there. Because young people generally know what topics or types of stories interest them, there’s an opportunity to spark their curiosity. Maybe they love watching shows about animals or nature. Introduce them to National Geographic documentaries or book a trip to a zoo or conservatory.
Your own media use will influence your children – either for the better or worse. Explore together while learning and reflecting on new discoveries.
Examples of Positive Digital Media Uses
Besides some very real concerns, kids can also find social and digital medial helpful during tough times. For example, they can:
- Connect with a supportive friend in a private message.
- Participate in an online community.
- Uplift their spirits with funny or inspirational content.
- Engage in creative expression, such as art or educational content.
