Social media is a major part of daily life for many children, but mental health experts say parents should start having conversations with their kids about screen time and social media earlier ā long before handing their child a smartphone.
In a recent discussion with students aged 11 to 14, many shared how platforms like Pinterest, Snapchat, and messaging apps help them stay connected and inspired.
āYou can talk with your friends and stuff. Because I live very far away from my friends,ā said Camden, 14.
Others mentioned how social media fuels creativity and keeps them socially engaged.
āI like Pinterest because when youāre bored you can look at things to do,ā said Lauren, 12.
However, while the benefits are clear, mental health professionals said there are also serious risks that need to be addressed.
Clarity Child Guidance Center program director Rick Edwards said screen time isnāt inherently harmful ā but it needs to be balanced.
āEngagement in the community, whether itās getting outdoors, with play, or sports, or just being out with peers ā thereās an opportunity that physically, the endorphins get activated,ā Edwards explained.
The real concern, he said, is when social media begins to replace basic human needs like sleep, physical activity, and face-to-face interaction.
āIt really is, particularly as kids get older, an ongoing kind of conversation,ā Edwards said. āThat should start way before a kid ever gets on to any kind of media platform whatsoever.ā
Itās not just about monitoring your childās behavior, experts said, itās about modeling your own.
āItās not simply, āOh, well, do as I say, not as I do,āā Edwards said. āI have to be off the device too.ā
KSAT will dive deeper into this issue during its community town hall, āSocial Media S.O.S.: The Effects of Social Media on Children.ā
Watch the town hall at 2 p.m. Thursday on KSAT+.
KSAT Community operates in partnership with University Health and Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union. Visit our website to read about other KSAT Community efforts.