With millions of people going online to use social media on a daily basis, you may be concerned about teen social media use. This is especially true if you have a teen in the home. Is there a need to be concerned, and if so, what can you do about it?
Teen Social Media Use Statistics
According to the latest statistics, approximately 3.484 billion people nationwide are considered active social media users. The biggest group of users is from ages 18 to 29. This age group is responsible for 88% of social media activity. Teen social media use is increasing with about 70% of young people saying they use it on various platforms more than once a day. Among teens, Snapchat is currently the most popular platform. The number of teens who report that they prefer in-person communications is down from 2012, which means that they are spending less time with people.
Talking To Your Teens About Social Media
Although there are some concerns and risks, with the proper direction and oversight, social media can be used safely. Parents should talk to their teens about appropriate social media use and warn them about the dangers of meeting people online. Teens spending too much time on social media can result in process addiction or internet addiction. One way parents can prevent excessive teen social media use is limiting the amount of time young people can use social media per day.  It is important young people know that some people online are not who they pretend to be and may try to trick them. Talk to your teen about the dangers of online predators. Advise them to never give out location information to people they don’t know, even if the person says they are a teen too. Also, keep the dialogue about teen social media use open. Let your teen know that you are available to discuss any problems they encounter online. Whether it’s bullying or anything else, make sure your teenager knows you are there to help guide them through this time. If you notice your teen is spending an excessive amount of time online, you could try planning more time to do things with them offline. Some adolescents become addicted because they are lonely, bored, or trying to escape from dealing with people in person. It’s important to have these conversations with your teen so as they get older, they will monitor their own use.
Teen Internet Addiction Treatment at Destinations For Teens
If your teen is developing an addiction to social media, consider enrolling them in an adolescent treatment program at Destinations for Teens. In addition to internet addiction treatment, we offer a variety of mental health treatment programs for teens, some of which include:Â
- Depression treatment program
- Anxiety treatment program
- Trauma treatment program
- Self-injurious treatment program
Stop by our facility and meet our compassionate team of expert doctors, therapists, and caregivers. Their professional and loving care will help your teen find inner healing. Don’t let teen social media use interfere with your closeness as a family. If your teen has developed an addiction to social media, they can overcome this by enrolling in one of our premier adolescent teen treatment centers. To learn more, contact Destinations for Teens today at 877.466.0620. Citations General Social Media Statistics, https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-statistics-for-social-media-managers/#general