Does My Child Have A Problem With Social Media Use?

Is your child avoiding real life responsibilities, such as chores or homework, because they spend so much time on their phone?

Is your child withdrawing from face-to-face social interactions?

Is your child unresponsive to people in front of them?

Does your child display consistent anxiety or feeling overwhelmed by normal tasks and routines?

Do phones start to create conflict in your child’s closest relationships?

Is your child showing a decline in performance at school?

Is your child anxious or depressed without their devices?

While it is unlikely that your child has a problem with social media use, he or she may be displaying one or two signs related to it. Online behaviors become a problem when they become compulsive, are related to offline problems, and when they are motivated by the desire for mood alteration. For example, using social media to avoid feeling depressed or sad. As a parent, you need to educate your children about the risks of social media and monitor their social media habits as early as possible. In case you answered ‘no’ to all questions, there seem to be no reasons to be worried!

Based on your answers, your child is displaying some signs related to having problems with social media use. Excessive use of social media becomes a problem when it disrupts your daily activities. For example, your productivity is affected, relationships suffer, and you have problems sleeping. If you notice that your child has an uncontrollable urge to use social media and that it affects important aspects of his or her life, it’s time to re-consider their relationships with their phone. Make sure to establish phone-free time before sleep (for all family members). Besides, you can help your kids to reflect on how being on social media makes them feel.

Unfortunately, your child is displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who have a serious problem with social media use. As a parent, you need to be intentional about monitoring your kids’ social media habits. Also, make sure to educate them about the risks as early as possible. When something becomes an addiction, it takes away our choices and limits our future. Teach your children to limit anything that can become addictive, because only then their future will be full of possibilities and opportunities. If you need some extra help, you can always reach out to a psychologist for some additional advice.