Social Media Safety for Teens: A Guide to Protecting Teens Online
Today’s teenagers face risks that no other generation has. Social media has brought the social pressures of adolescence into teens’ most private spaces. Meanwhile, the always-on internet can make it feel nearly impossible to get away.
In this environment, social media safety for teens is essential. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok can expose young people to inappropriate and potentially dangerous content, from cyberbullying to identity theft. Safety starts with parents, teachers, counselors, and caregivers understanding what teenagers have access to.
Introduction to Social Media Safety for Teens
Parents and scientists can agree on one thing, at least – emotions rule the teenage brain, while logic and rational thinking wait on the sidelines. Neurologists have found that the prefrontal cortex, which thinks through situations and examines consequences, doesn’t mature until age 25.
Teenagers’ developing brains also make them highly susceptible to social opinion and peer acceptance. They’re more likely to take risks in peer environments, particularly when others model risky behavior.
The combination means that teens are particularly vulnerable to social media’s effects. During a time of heightened emotional sensitivity, teens may turn to social media to self-soothe or seek acceptance. Many teens find community and connection in online communities, but there’s also the serious risk that social media will exacerbate their need for acceptance.
That need can encourage some teens to engage in dangerous or cruel behavior. For others, online time can put them in harm’s way as victims of bullying. Parents and caregivers should be aware of how teens use social media, what they share, and what the fallout might be.
Understanding the Risks of Sharing on Social Media
The internet is a risky environment for teens and their vulnerable developing brains. Three of the most prevalent dangers are cyberbullies, age-inappropriate material, and information privacy.
Cyberbullying and Online Harassment
Cyberbullying is malicious social attacks via digital devices. It happens on nearly all online channels, including social media, text messaging, community forums, and email.
Effects of Cyberbullying
Being the target of cyberbullying can have profound effects on teenagers, including:
- Sleep problems
- Lack of appetite
- Loneliness
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Frequent headaches, stomachaches, and other physical symptoms
These issues have many possible causes, but cyberbullying may be the culprit if a teen shows signs of distress around device use and social interaction, such as:
- Desperation to be on their devices–or avoid them
- Heightened emotional reactions to messages or notifications
- Secretiveness around what they are doing online
- Avoidance of activities or friend groups they used to enjoy
It’s better to ask your teen and be wrong than to avoid asking and let the harm continue.
Responding and Preventing Cyberbullying: Tips for Parents
If you suspect your child is a victim of cyberbullying, it’s crucial to approach the issue sensitively. Mention that you’ve noticed their distress and invite them to share what’s happening.
Report the incident to law enforcement if you have concerns about your child’s physical safety. Some schools also have reporting channels.
Parents can also help to prevent cyberbullying by monitoring their child’s online behavior. Talk with them about common types of cyberbullying, such as threatening texts or sharing hurtful comments and rumors on social media. Teach them to block harmful accounts.
Exposure to Inappropriate Content
Social media can allow children to access harmful and developmentally inappropriate material, including:
- Sexually explicit content
- Violent images, videos, or language
- Hate speech or enticement to hate
- Portrayals of drug or alcohol consumption
- Encouragement of self-harm behaviors, including disordered eating and suicide
Some inappropriate material on social media is intentionally harmful, while other content may be too mature for a child’s age. In both cases, teens’ emotional brains make them susceptible to ideas you may not want them to internalize.
Privacy Concerns and Data Security
Teenagers share their experiences on social media to connect with peers and earn social approval, but what they share can threaten their privacy. Cybercriminals and other malicious individuals can mine social media to gain information about a child’s age, hobbies, school, and more.
The more specific the information your child shares, the higher the risk is. For example, tagging their location can make it easy for strangers to find them and even steal their address. A photo of a newly earned driver’s license is a gold mine for hackers and can lead to identity theft, which can affect a child’s future.
Preventive Measures
Teenagers’ brains tend to downplay risk, especially when the potential reward is more friends or followers online. Parents should actively protect children’s safety and help them avoid threats, from predators to data breaches.
- Use parental control options: Use teen privacy settings, such as Instagram Teen Accounts and TikTok family pairing, to set your teen’s safety controls.
- Monitor social media activity: Require your teen to share their passwords with you or show you their accounts regularly.
- Restrict followers and messaging: Make it a condition of social media use that teens can only accept follow and message requests from friends.
- Talk about cybersecurity: Discuss how hackers trick people into sharing their data. Teach them about common types of breaches and why disclosing personal information is dangerous.
Teens may make risky choices, but they can understand concepts like identity theft and online predators.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Online Safety
Artificial intelligence (AI) has added a layer of complexity to internet safety for teens, on and off social media.
AI in Social Media Algorithms
Today’s social media algorithms use AI to learn users’ preferences and feed them content they’ll engage with. A few curious clicks on inappropriate content can cause your teen’s Instagram or TikTok account to feed them more of the same.
This pattern may seem harmless, but remember that teens are naturally impulsive. A body-insecure young person might click on a few workout or weight loss ads, which leads online algorithms to recommend more of the same. The repeated exposure can lead them to ruminate further on their body image and damage their self-worth.
AI-Powered Scams and Deepfakes
AI is becoming increasingly skilled at creating fake photo, video, and audio content, known as “deepfakes.” These AI-generated images can be extremely damaging in the hands of the wrong people, and teens are on the front lines.
You or your teen might have heard about the deepfake pornographic images of Taylor Swift that recently went viral on X, formerly Twitter. Many celebrities have spoken out against deepfakes, but everyone is at risk.
In 2023, students at a New Jersey high school used AI to falsify nude images of their classmates. Now, there are entire websites that use AI to turn any photo into a nude picture, and some teenagers are using these sites to target other students at their schools.
State and local governments have also begun warning people about the rise of AI scams, which use deepfake images of people’s friends and family to solicit funds. Imagine your teen receiving a voice message from their best friend, girlfriend, or cousin asking for money to fix their car before their parents find out. These messages can sound highly realistic, especially if you don’t know what to look for.
Educating Teens About AI Risks
More than 40 percent of teens are aware of AI’s potentially negative impact on their lives, and that awareness is much stronger among socially vulnerable groups. However, this doesn’t mean that teens are conscious of all the risks. It is important to be proactive and discuss with teens the potential harms of AI.
Research shows that more than half of teens use AI, often to help with schoolwork or creative projects. Some use it to ask questions they might be embarrassed or worried about asking adults. Given the sensitive nature of teens’ interactions with these tools, talking about potential misinformation is paramount.
A 2024 BBC study showed that 51 percent of AI news information has significant issues with inaccuracy, while 19 percent introduce factual errors. False information can severely impact teens’ education, health, and well-being, especially if they ask AI about personal matters. Parents and teachers can help by showing teens how to fact-check, starting with identifying authoritative websites.
Teens also need to understand the potential threats of posting personal photos online, given the prevalence of deepfakes. It’s even more important to discuss the damage those deepfakes can do and the possible legal consequences.
Promoting Healthy Online Habits
Today’s teens need guidance on how to use social media responsibly and safely. This requires a thoughtful combination of limit-setting and open discussion.
Setting Screen Time Limits
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing recommends collaborating with your teen to set a realistic social media and screen time use plan. Involving your teen in this process gives them more agency, increasing the likelihood of them sticking with it.
When discussing screen-free time, try to avoid framing it as a restriction. Talk about offline activities your teen enjoys more than scrolling TikTok or posting to Instagram. Let them take the lead.
Parents can help by setting and abiding by their own screen time limits. For example, if no one in the family is on their phones after 9 p.m., it can be easier for teens to stay offline. You might even float the idea of a screens-off challenge with a final prize that everyone can get excited about.
Encouraging Critical Thinking
It’s best to start by talking about screen time use, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Teens can’t always accurately assess how much time they spend on social media, but they can reflect on what they get from it. Maybe an hour of FaceTiming a friend feels healthy and encouraging to your teen, but a half-hour of scrolling Instagram makes them feel self-conscious or left out of the crowd.
Discuss what your teen does on each platform and whether it feels healthy to them. Teens will probably have mixed feelings about their social media experiences, and that’s okay. Their cognitive development allows them to handle more nuanced thinking than they could as preteens. They can consider multiple points of view and consider whether their thinking may be biased.
For example, a teen might love Instagram because sharing photos of their soccer team makes them proud, even though they hate seeing weight loss drug ads. This awareness can be the jumping-off point for a discussion about who they should follow and what content they should engage with.
Open Communication With Parents
Learning how to stay safe on social media is an ongoing challenge. Teens need to be able to ask adults whether something is okay or how to get out of a dangerous situation.
Start by asking teens what they’ve seen on social media lately. A funny meme or shocking video can be a great conversation opener. If your teen hesitates to discuss more challenging topics, share something potentially upsetting that you’ve encountered.
Remind your teen that they can always come to you with any issue, offline or online. Kids can forget that your priority is to keep them safe, and they may need to hear that you’re a judgment-free zone regarding online safety.
Resources and Tools for Parents and Teens
As any teen can tell you, the internet is full of valuable resources about awkward topics.
Parental Control Tools
Plenty of software programs and device features let you manage your teen’s online use. Popular options include:
- Google Family Link: App permissions, account management tools, and advice for keeping kids safe and connected
- Bark: Monitoring software that lets you block certain websites, monitor social media apps, and set screen-off times
- Qustodio: Multi-featured parental control protection with call tracking and online activity monitoring
Take some time to read professional and user reviews and decide what’s best for your family.
Educational Resources
There are also lots of resources available if you’d like to read more about online safety for kids and teens. Reliable sources include:
Reliable information about security and data theft is important, as resources for teens and parents often don’t touch on this critical topic. Teach your kids about the types of data breaches and how to avoid becoming a victim.
Support Networks
If your child has experienced online harassment or cyberbullying, there are support networks and hotlines available from multiple organizations:
StopBullying.gov also has a comprehensive resource for kids, teens, and adults, with information about resources for all levels of crisis. Wherever and whoever you are, there’s someone out there to help.
