American Psychological Association’s Recommendations for Adolescent Social Media Use 

1. Youth using social media should be encouraged to use functions that create opportunities for social support, online companionship, and emotional intimacy that can promote healthy socialization.

2. Social media use, functionality, and permissions/consenting should be tailored to youths’ developmental capabilities; designs created for adults may not be appropriate for children.

3. In early adolescence (i.e., typically 10–14 years), adult monitoring (i.e., ongoing review, discussion, and coaching around social media content) is advised for most youths’ social media use; autonomy may increase gradually as kids age and if they gain digital literacy skills. However, monitoring should be balanced with youths’ appropriate needs for privacy.

4. To reduce the risks of psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to content on social media that depicts illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior, including content that instructs or encourages youth to engage in health-risk behaviors, such as self-harm (e.g., cutting, suicide), harm to others, or those that encourage eating-disordered behavior (e.g., restrictive eating, purging, excessive exercise) should be minimized, reported, and removed; moreover, technology should not drive users to this content.

5. To minimize psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to “cyberhate” including online discrimination, prejudice, hate, or cyberbullying especially directed toward a marginalized group (e.g., racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, ability status), or toward an individual because of their identity or allyship with a marginalized group should be minimized.

6. Adolescents should be routinely screened for signs of “problematic social media use” that can impair their ability to engage in daily roles and routines, and may present risk for more serious psychological harms over time.

7. The use of social media should be limited so as to not interfere with adolescents’ sleep and physical activity.

8. Adolescents should limit use of social media for social comparison, particularly around beauty- or appearance-related content.

9. Adolescents’ social media use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that users have developed psychologically-informed competencies and skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe, and meaningful social media use.

10. Substantial resources should be provided for continued scientific examination of the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent development.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Create an environment of open communication with your child so they feel comfortable sharing information about their online communication. 

2. Make decisions based on your child’s developmental and maturity levels.

3. Teach your child how to make the best decisions when interacting with others online.

4. Monitor your child’s academic, physical, social, and emotional functioning to determine if social media is interfering with their overall well-being. 

5. Consult with a psychologist if your child is a) accessing content about high-risk behaviors on social media, b) comparing themselves to others online, c) being bullied or harassed online, and/or d) their psychological well-being is negatively impacted by their social media use.

To read the original report visit the APA website at the link below,

https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use

“Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence.” American Psychological Association, May 2023, www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use.