Dr. Mark Swaim says that in 2019, the average American teens from the ages of 13 to 18 spend at least seven hours and 22 minutes online daily. This figure is supplemented by the fact that smartphone ownership also spiked dramatically in five years. In fact, in 2015, only 67% of teenagers had a smartphone. By 2019, the percentage had increased to 84%.
Time spent on social media unimportant
Although the figures seem alarming, a recent study shows that the overall time a teen spends on social media is unrelated to depression and anxiety. It’s not the amount of time that is important, but rather the context and the content surrounding the social media usage.
With this in mind, how do you make social media healthy for teens? Dr. Mark Swaim shares the following guidelines:
- Be active rather than passive. It’s better to be engaged with your social media community. Post content, comment, and get into healthy discussions with your peers; these are all ways that activate your creativity and social interaction skills. Avoid scrolling and just taking in content.
- Avoid social media an hour before bedtime. Social is a potent stimulator and can keep you awake for hours. It may disturb your sleep pattern and prevent you from getting enough. Quality sleep is one of the most important protectors of good mental health, so Dr. Mark Swaim cautions that teens should stay off gadgets before bedtime.
- Be intentional. Check your motivations for going on social media. Are you there to acquire information or to connect with friends or family? That has a more beneficial effect than just going on because you have nothing else to do.
These tips may help your teen have a more positive online experience. Dr. Mark Swaim is hopeful that in time, the rise of depression and anxiety among teenagers may also be reduced if they get enough social support.
Dr Mark Swaim 