Social Media And Self Esteem: How To Help Your Teenager
On average, teens spend between six and nine hours online every single day.
Social media offers teens a space that's available 24/7 to share thoughts and ideas away from their parents. They can use it to create strong peer relationships and boost self-esteem, and it gives your teen the opportunity to forge their identity outside of school or home.
As we're sure you're aware, there is, unfortunately, a much darker side to social networking sites that is potentially harmful to our teens. Edited imagery and an endless stream of perfect lives breed social comparison and unrealistic expectations.
The self-esteem of our teens can plummet, and depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia are all very real risks that social media use can pose.
Today it's almost inevitable that our teens are going to be using social media sites. So how do we, as parents, offer support and guidance to our teens as they navigate the online sphere?
From tips on what to avoid, to how to manage your teen's time spent online, we've got a few ideas that might help you to deal with the ups and downs your teen will inevitably face on the web.
And if you're craving some light reading, why not check out our article on is Santa real? and get down with your teens (or embarrass them terribly) by learning some [Gen Z slang].
