Teens and Social Media – What Policy Can't Fix and Parents Still Can

Teen Suicide Prevention Series

July 13, 2026

Andrea Durrheim, Author

Tom O'Connor, Publisher

Social media can be brutal. From peer group bullying to predatory behavior, inappropriate content, and unhealthy absorption due to the engagement-driven design many platforms rely on, parents and regulators are justifiably concerned about the harms today's teens might face online. 

As most of us know, research has found links between heavy social media use and increased risk of depression, self-harm, suicide, and other mental health issues. Teens, eager to make their mark on the online world, are certainly at risk. Regulators and platforms are responding to high-profile cases by introducing guardrails, but parents still have the most decisive role to play.

Their role is, perhaps, the most difficult, requiring understanding, patience, vigilance, and ultimately trust. To understand this role, it helps to see what third parties are attempting – and why their interventions may not have the intended effect.

What Governments Are Trying 

Social media's influence on the young has become an issue that extends beyond parental concern. Australia has passed legislation requiring platforms to prevent users under 16 from having or creating accounts, and regulators in other countries are also exploring ways to address the issue.

For example, the UK's Online Safety Act bars social media companies from exposing young people to harmful content, and France is considering measures such as parental consent requirements and curfews for minors.

Meanwhile, critics argue that prohibitions and rules may be ineffective because teens can bypass restrictions by using adult credentials, borrowing accounts, or finding other workarounds. Regulations will be hard to enforce and may ultimately have little impact on the problems they seek to address.

Platforms Say They're Already Implementing Safeguards 

Social media companies are under pressure to protect teen users, and many say they are taking steps to do so. Reported guardrails include age restrictions, ad restrictions, privacy defaults, restricted messaging, and age-based content moderation.

However, just as teens may seek ways to bypass regulations, they may also find ways around platform safeguards. There is also skepticism about platforms' commitment to teen harm reduction, since increased engagement benefits both the companies and their advertisers.

The conflict of interest becomes clearer when we consider how advertisers target young people. Research presented by the Public Health Institute shows that social media platforms are among the primary channels marketers use to reach teens. Since advertising revenue remains a key source of income for platforms, critics argue that engagement and youth protection may be at odds.

You might also like Robert Kent's "Social" Media and the Law

Moderate Social Media Use Can Be Beneficial to Teens

Amidst the media furor and high-profile cases in which social media addiction or bullying has led to harm, it can be easy to forget that social media, used wisely, can be very positive.  

As the University of Rochester points out, potential benefits of teen social media use include:

• Finding like-minded, supportive peers that teenagers may not have encountered in day-to-day life

• Access to information and support resources, including advice from qualified professionals on dealing with the challenges of growing up 

• A creative outlet that allows for positive self-expression and affirmation

• Finding a sense of purpose and using their voices to advocate for things that matter to them

Of course, none of this means one should be blind to the very real dangers teens may encounter. As the American Psychological Association (APA) observes, the developing brain can be particularly susceptible to both the pleasures and the dangers of social media. 

Young adolescents, in particular, are seeking acceptance and affirmation at a time when self-control and critical judgment are not fully developed. The combination can be dangerous, leading teens to wander onto dangerous ground if left to their own devices. 

A study published in Nature Communications found that increased social media use was associated with a proportional decrease in life satisfaction among children aged 11 to 15. The balance to strike involves not only the amount of time spent on social media but also the nature of the content they consume. 

What Parents Can Do 

It's reasonable to assume that if teenagers are interested in social media, they'll use it sooner or later. Teaching young people how to think critically, engage meaningfully, and set boundaries may be more beneficial than rule-setting, close supervision, or outright prohibition. 

The American Psychological Association (APA) advises starting the process in early adolescence, between ages 10 and 14. It recommends beginning with co-use, then carefully monitoring social media activity, and gradually building toward autonomy that satisfies an older teenager's desire for privacy. 

Open discussions will be key, and limits on screen time can help avert excessive dependence on social media. For instance, you and your teen might discuss a family social media policy that limits time spent online to help them enjoy a balanced lifestyle and healthy sleep. 

Social Media Literacy Skills Teens Need 

Parents play a key role in preparing teens for the time when online supervision is relaxed. To achieve this with any degree of confidence, parents must make a judgment call based on their children's readiness to go it alone. Important skills young people should learn include:

• Understanding disinformation and knowing how to identify reliable sources

• Knowing that content may imply majority consensus and approval, even when that's not necessarily true

• Being ready to prioritize real life over online life, for example, by maintaining a disciplined, balanced schedule

• Building healthy online relationships while maintaining privacy and personal safety

• Knowing how to deal with conflicts on social media

• Refraining from social comparisons based on content

• Recognizing and rejecting bias, hate speech, and discriminatory language

Should teens use social media? They already do, and prohibitions will just drive teen social media use underground, placing vulnerable young people in a position where they're afraid to reach out for help or discuss their own mistakes. 

Since bans aren't really a solution, the only way we can help is to encourage safer design and practice constructive parenting. Teens often share the same concerns as their parents and may be more receptive than we expect, especially when we are open about the purpose of our interventions.

The online world is fraught with risks, but so is the real one. Just as we teach our children how to stay safe in the real world, we should equip them with the skills they need to enjoy the benefits of social media while avoiding its pitfalls.

Time to Consider Your Own Social Media Habits? 

There's one final point to consider here: the behavior you model and how it influences the conclusions your children will reach. Children are quick to recognize a "do as I tell you, not as I do" attitude. Helping your children avoid the pitfalls of social media addiction and negative influence means following the rules yourself. 

If you're always checking your phone for updates from your connections, contacts, or to gauge the traction your own posts are gaining, kids and teens will be quick to notice the inconsistency. They may even feel that you're being hypocritical or unfair.

Families can benefit from establishing shared expectations rather than creating rules that apply only to children. Device-free meals, designated screen-free times, and open discussions about online experiences can help create a healthier relationship with technology for everyone in the household. 

Perhaps you'll be happier for it, too. 

If you're struggling with the thought of this change, try using screen time-limiting apps, placing your phone where you have to think about going to fetch it during digital downtime, or consider getting help from a therapist or an organization like the ITAA. 

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