Instagram has introduced "teen accounts" with built-in privacy restrictions to give parents more control over their teenagers' accounts.
These accounts will be private and can only be messaged, tagged, or mentioned by people they already follow. The new feature is part of Meta's efforts to address child safety issues on its platforms.
Users under 16 need parental consent to change new teen account settings. Meta promises to implement measures to prevent teens from changing their ages or creating new adult accounts.
But are these companies' efforts too little, too late?
In January of this year during a Senate hearing on online child safety, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents who claimed that Instagram played a role in their children's suicides or exploitation.
What are The Dangers of Social Media for Teens?
There is much in the way of growing evidence that social media is causing harm to young people’s mental health. In the past 18 months;
*The US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, released an advisory called Social Media and Youth Mental Health.
The American Psychological Association (APA) issued its own health advisory.
In June 2024, Dr. Murthy called for a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, which would require an act of Congress to implement. *Yale Medicine https://ym.care/9hg
For this clincian, the above evidence is more than enough to support the current changes and more. Parents and caregivers must be as vigelant as ever about what they and their teens are consuming in terms of social media content. After all parents have their own mental health to be concerned about. Their well being is a significant contributor to their teens mental health. That's not blaming, rather a stark reality.
In my book, "What's Wrong with My Teen?", I share that the stage of "teenagerism", is full of changes and developments that are ripe with vulnerabilities. The phsycial, emotional and biological growth of a teenager is tumultuous. Their brains are still develomping until around the age of 25.
In short, you are what you consume, and time spent as well as content consumed will have consequences. Yet the important factors about raising teens haven't changed;
Teens need the consistent presence of a parent or caregiver in their life
This helps to regulate their nervous system and create a sense of safety and security. Teens look to their parents and caregivers for stability
Engaging and connecting with teens is more important than ever before (in joyful ways and not just serious ways)
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