Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media

For many kids, social media is a big part of how they connect with friends and explore their interests. But social media platforms (websites and apps) are designed to keep users engaged as long as possible, and that can impact kids' well-being.

To help kids find a healthy balance, learn about the pros and cons of social media, then talk with them about how to use it wisely.

What Are the Positive Effects of Social Media?

Social media can help kids:

• stay in touch with family, friends, teachers, and other students
• interact with a more diverse group of kids than they may be used to
• get creative by sharing ideas, music, and art
• meet people with similar interests
• find health information 
• learn about current events
• get support when they feel sad or anxious

What Are the Negative Effects of Social Media?

Social media isn’t always safe though. It can include content that may be inappropriate or harmful.

Cyberbullying

One of the dangers of social media is cyberbullying, where kids can be teased or harassed online. It’s a common online risk and is linked to depression, loneliness, and even suicide in both the victims and the bullies.

Privacy & Safety

Kids also should know about privacy and Internet safety. Without meaning to, they may share more online than they should. Many kids post photos of themselves or use their real name on their profiles. They also might reveal their birthdate, school, location, or interests.

This can make them easy targets for online predators and others who might mean them harm. In fact, many kids say they have been contacted online by someone they didn't know in a way that made them feel scared or uncomfortable.

There's also the risk of a physical encounter with the wrong person. Some apps can automatically reveal a user's location, telling anyone exactly where to find the person.

Data Profiling & Algorithms

Another privacy and safety concern is data profiling. Social media platforms collect information about what your child watches, likes, and searches for. The information is then used by algorithms (AL-guh-ri-thumz), which are formulas that help online tools decide what videos, posts, ads, and other content people see.

Reputation Risks

Photos, videos, and comments made online usually can't be deleted after they're sent or posted. Sharing an inappropriate photo can damage a reputation and cause problems years later — like when someone does a background check.

Poor Mental Health

Spending a lot of time on social media may be linked to mental health conditions, like depression or anxiety.

How kids use social media also matters. For example, seeing how many "friends" others have or looking at pictures of them having fun can make kids feel left out, bad about themselves, or like they don't measure up to their peers. Also, kids who only read posts are often less happy than those who actively post and message friends.

Inappropriate or Harmful Content

Kids may see online content or ads that aren't appropriate for their age. This is especially true for kids who lie about their age to access certain social media sites. They may come across dangerous content that includes violence, risky challenges, sex, and discrimination toward some groups of people.

Harmful content may appear more than once. For example, if your child watches an exercise video, the platform may keep showing content about fad diets or rapid weight loss plans. Over time, this could lead to problems like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, or self-harm.

AI Risks

Images, videos, and audio made by AI (artificial intelligence) can look almost the same as real ones, making it harder to tell what's true. There’s even a name for it: deepfake. This is a fake photo, video, or voice that looks real but was made with computer tools to trick people.

It’s also possible to be confused by misinformation. This is information that isn’t correct but is shared anyway, often by mistake. That’s why it’s important to teach kids to pause before sharing something and to check that it comes from a trusted source.

Time Drain

Kids sometimes spend so much time on social media that they don’t have enough hours in the day to do homework, be active, spend time with family, read for fun, or sleep.

What Can Parents Do?

Ask If Your Child Is Ready for Social Media

First, consider if your child is ready for a social media account. There's no right age — it depends on maturity, how truthful your child is with you, and the practical needs of having an account. Can your child figure out online social situations and come to you when something goes wrong?

Teach Kids Healthy Habits

Once kids have an account, stay involved in a way so they know that you respect their privacy but want to make sure they're safe.

Tell your kids that it's important to:

• Be nice. Mean behavior is not OK. Make it clear that they should treat others with respect, and to never post hurtful or embarrassing messages. And ask them to always tell you about any harassing or bullying messages that others post.
• Think twice before hitting "enter." Remind kids that what they post can be used against them. For example, letting the world know that you're on vacation or posting your home address gives would-be robbers a chance to strike. Kids also should avoid posting specific locations of parties or events, as well as phone numbers.
• Follow the “What would grandma say?” rule. Teach kids not to share anything on social media that they wouldn't want their teachers, college admissions officers, future bosses — and yes, grandma — to see.
• Use privacy settings. And check them regularly because social media platforms often reset them when they update an app. Review the settings with your child, including ones that limit data collection or custom ads.
• Talk about who they're connected to online. Following real-life friends and people with shared interests is generally safer and more rewarding than connecting with strangers. If your child follows public figures or content creators, explain how it’s not the same as trusting a real-life friend.
• Explain algorithms and how to adjust them. If kids see unhealthy or upsetting content, show them how to reset their recommendations. (Search online for the platform name and “algorithm reset” for how-to steps).

Make a Family Media Plan

Use the American Academy of PediatrIcs (AAP) Family Media Plan tool to help set household rules on media use. It can include things like what social media platforms are OK, screentime for kids, and where screen-free zones in your home are. Keep kids’ maturity level, mental health, and personality in mind when you make the plan, and let them help. Kids will be more likely to follow it that way.

Know Who to Contact

If cyberbullying, harassment, or other problems happen, you or your child can report it to school staff, the social media platform, or local law enforcement. If you're worried about your child’s mental health, talk with your doctor.