The American Psychological Association (APA) has issued its first ever health advisory on social media use, aimed at protecting children from potential harms. The APA does not condemn social media use, but rather advocates for a thoughtful approach, advising parents to monitor their children’s social media use and encouraging a healthy balance between online and offline activities.
The report focuses on the role of parents in monitoring their children’s online activities, including regular screenings for “problematic social media use.” Parents are also advised to remain vigilant in preventing social media from disrupting their children’s sleep routines and physical activity, both of which are directly linked to mental health outcomes.
The report also cautions parents and platforms about design features intended for adults that younger users might be more susceptible to, such as algorithmic recommendations and advertising. The APA recommends a reasonable, age-appropriate degree of “adult monitoring” through parental controls at the device and app level and urges parents to model their own healthy relationships with social media.
One of the report’s recommendations advises limiting the time that young users spend comparing themselves to others on social media apps, particularly around beauty- or appearance-related content. The report cites ample research suggesting that social media use for social comparisons related to physical appearance is related to poorer body image, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms, particularly among girls.
The APA emphasizes that outcomes on social media are shaped by offline experiences too, and those vary widely from child to child. “The effects of social media are dependent on adolescents’ own personal and psychological characteristics and social circumstances—intersecting with the specific content, features, or functions that are afforded within many social media platforms,” the report states.
The APA’s recommendations are not easy to navigate in today’s social media landscape, even for adults. However, boosting digital literacy across a number of social media topics, including how to recognize misinformation tactics and how to resolve conflicts that originate on social platforms, is one way to improve outcomes.
The APA’s health advisory is an important reminder to parents and caregivers to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities and to prioritize a healthy balance between online and offline activities.
