Social Media and Children’s Mental Health: What Parents Need to Know (and How to Help)

Dr. Lana Mahgoub
2 days ago
4 min read

By: Dr. Lana Mahgoub, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Social media is now a daily part of life for most children and teens. Since I first reported on this topic for WAVY News in 2022, parents have continued to ask me the same urgent question in therapy: “Is social media hurting my child’s mental health, and how can I help?” While research continues to evolve, what we now know is more nuanced and more helpful than simply counting screen time.

Below I break down what the latest research shows and what parents can do to support healthy digital habits.

How Social Media Can Impact Children and Teens

Social media itself isn’t inherently harmful, but how it’s used matters greatly.

Potential Benefits (when used in healthy ways)

Help connect kids to friends, families, and their community, fostering a sense of belonging, especially if they struggled to connect with peers at school
Build peer support and joy in shared interests
Offer access to mental health resources and positive role models

Potential Risks

Research continues to link certain patterns of use with:

Increased anxiety and depressive symptoms
Lower self-esteem and body image concerns
Sleep disruption
Exposure to cyberbullying or harmful content
Inaccurate mental health information/harmful resources

The highest risks appear when social media use becomes compulsive or emotionally distressing, rather than moderate and purposeful. In other words, it’s less about “how many hours” and more about:

How your child feels while using it
Whether it interferes with sleep, school, or relationships
Whether they become upset when they can’t access it

Why Time Limits Alone Aren’t Enough

Many parents focus on screen time rules, which can be beneficial. In addition, however, newer research shows that context, content, and emotional response matter more than strict hour limits.

Two children could spend the same amount of time online, yet have very different outcomes depending on what it is they’re viewing (e.g., age-appropriate educational content vs. violent gaming), why they’re using it (connection vs. escape), and their mental health state and coping skills. This is why a balanced, supportive approach typically works best.

Practical Tips for Parents: Supporting Healthy Social Media Use

Here are some evidence-based strategies that help protect children’s mental health while still allowing reasonable technology use:

Start Open Conversations Early

Ask questions like:

“What do you like about social media?”
“How does it make you feel afterward?”
“Have you ever seen something that made you uncomfortable?”

Avoid judgment. It’s curiosity that builds trust.

Create Clear but Flexible Boundaries

Consider:

No screens before bedtime (this also really helps support sleep)
Tech-free meals or family time
Age-appropriate platform access

Work together to set expectations rather than imposing rules alone.

Watch for Red Flags

Seek support if you notice:

Emotional distress tied to social media
Increased negative self-judgements and comparisons to others online
Loss of interest in offline activities
Sleep problems
Eating changes (e.g., skipping meals, restricted eating)
Increased anxiety, irritability, or withdrawal

These may signal unhealthy use patterns. Remember, the algorithms are specifically designed to continue showing your child more of what they are already watching. If one day, they go down a rabbit hole of watching sad videos, it could potentially lead to more dangerous content involving higher risk (e.g., self-harm behavior content).

Help Curate Positive Content and Promote Digital Literacy

Follow accounts that promote confidence and learning
Unfollow content that triggers comparison or negativity
Talk about what they see online
Teach non-screen ways to manage boredom and emotions
Teach digital safety skills

Model Balanced Tech Habits

Children learn from what they observe.

Demonstrate:

Taking breaks from your phone
Being present during conversations and meal times
Using technology intentionally, not automatically

The reality is, many adults are also glued to their phones and have trouble functioning without them. Consider it a healthy challenge for both yourself and your child to navigate being more present in the moment and set aside responding to that work email after hours, or scrolling through your own Instagram account in front of your kids. Kids often model adult behavior, so model the behavior you want to see.

Encourage Offline Connection

Some ideas that also protect against emotional distress and boost mood include:

Physical activity
Creative hobbies
Quality family time
In-person friendships
Adequate sleep

When to Seek Professional Support

It may be helpful to consult a mental health professional if: social media use is tied to worsening mood or anxiety, your child becomes distressed without access, or daily functioning is negatively impacted. Early support makes a meaningful difference.

Remember…Balance Over Fear

Social media is a powerful tool. It can offer connection and creativity, but also challenges arise when use becomes overwhelming or emotionally harmful.

The goal isn’t to eliminate technology, it’s to help children develop healthy, mindful habits that support emotional well-being.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some great resources for creating a social media plan with your family. You can create one here: Family Social Media Plan

If you’re concerned about how social media or any other stressor may be affecting your child, we’re here to help at Unity Kids Behavioral Health.