Menu Close

Our Programs & Activities Will Guide Your Teen Through Rehab

How Social Media Affects Teens’ Self-Esteem

Social media is an excellent source of entertainment for young adults. From making reels on TikTok to posting images on Instagram, social media allows teens to share their creativity and identity with others. However, there are times when social media interactions become negative. If your teen struggles with self-esteem and social media may cause more damage than help. It is time to find a solution. At Destinations for Teens, our internet addiction treatment programs will help you learn practical strategies to boost your self-esteem while engaging online.

How Does Social Media Affect Self-Esteem?

Young adults develop their identities between the ages of 11 and 19. Self-esteem is a significant part of a teen’s identity development. As teens interact on social media, others can affect their self-esteem. Teens are using social media to:

  • Connect with peers
  • Express their creativity
  • Learn about others

While these interactions can be positive, social media has negative aspects. As experiences such as cyberbullying and online peer pressure occur, it is essential to consider how social media affects young adults’ self-esteem. For many teens receiving positive interactions from others through followers, likes, and comments, will enhance their self-esteem. However, if a teen does not feel connected to others or supported in their online interactions, this can also impact how they think about themselves. Parents should discuss social media and self-esteem with their teens to understand how their interactions and online behaviors can impact their realities.

Strategies To Improve the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Social Media

Parents who want to support their teens must consider how social media affects self-esteem. It is time to have candid conversations that will allow teens to begin understanding the power of their identity and behaviors on social media. When parents and other adults actively keep an open dialogue with teens, it will enhance their awareness and support them in building trust in themselves. Here are some ways that adults can discuss social media and self-esteem with young adults:

What’s Real and What’s Not?

Everything online is not reality. Discuss with your teens what they view online. Listen to their ideas on what they are viewing and how they are distinguishing what is real and what is not. This distinguishing will help your teen understand that they should be kinder to themselves and others. Support teens in following accounts that make them feel great without harming others. In addition, coach teens to unfollow accounts that are mean-spirited or do not enhance their self-esteem.

Teach Online Etiquette

Social media is entertaining. However, teens must learn how to behave online to exude positive energy. Like in real life, teens need to understand that their words and actions have consequences. Therefore, share some tips on how to engage with others online. In addition, adults must practice what they preach–you can’t expect teens to practice positive social media behaviors if you are not doing the same.

Share Offline Activities

Spending hours–from morning until night–on social media platforms is not healthy. Since we know there is a relationship between social media and self-esteem, its consumption must be limited so they do not fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others or cyberbullying.

Discover How Social Media Affects Self-Esteem with Destinations for Teens

Social media is a popular pastime for many young adults. However, as parents, it is essential to consider how social media affects self-esteem. Adults must monitor social media usage–even if the teen appears well-adjusted. Parents, adults, and teens should never ignore the relationship between social media and self-esteem. If social media negatively impacts your teen, reach out to Destinations for Teens at 877.466.0620. Our team of mental health professionals will provide individual and group counseling to help your teen learn positive coping mechanisms for interacting online.