The world has changed so much in the past couple of decades that parents are finding themselves guiding their children through situations they never had to deal with at their age. Most of us were exposed to unrealistic standards for beauty and gender roles in more traditional media, such as magazines and television. Social media is a new frontier for teens’ self-worth, body image, and mental health. Your childhood probably looked very different, but you can still help your teen build resilience against unrealistic standards. Modeling healthy social media use and questioning media messages are critical. You can also help your teen build up unconditional self-worth.

The the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory named social media as a major factor in the teen mental health crisis in 2023. It can be associated with an increased risk of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction. It can also be a source of positive connection and information. The documentary The Social Dilemma exposed how algorithms were developed to keep people engaged at any cost: the product being sold in the business of social media is each user’s attention. 

To reap the positive benefits of social media, teens must build strong boundaries and exercise good judgment. 

In this article, we’ll talk about how social media can impact a teen’s self-worth and body image and share some actionable strategies you can use to help your teen use social media safely.

The impact of social media on teen self-worth and body image

The content people share on social media shows a polished and filtered version of their life, not their day-to-day reality. They make it look effortless and convincing, which makes it hard for people of any age to avoid making unfair comparisons. Social media also reinforces comparisons and poor self-worth by quantifying our interactions through likes, comments, and followers. Both girls and boys may encounter content that reinforces harmful gender expectations on social media. For girls, it’s more about body image and beauty standards. For boys, it’s often more about their performance of masculinity. 

No one’s life is picture-perfect all the time, and teens may need constant reminders of this when using social media. Model acceptance and body positivity with your teen. This means focusing on the things your body can do and your health rather than looks. Avoid commenting on weight or appearance, and instead focus on health and function, and promote decency toward everyone. Self-worth isn’t something that needs to be earned or proven. It is a sort of connection with oneself that each person needs to cultivate intentionally. Help your teen explore healthy ways to do that.

Building media literacy and critical thinking 

For much of the content on social media, entertainment is only a secondary purpose, or it’s a means to something else. All kinds of harmful influencers, both individuals and groups, use social media to promote their own interests. In addition to predators and scammers, there’s also manipulative propaganda designed to sell products, shape public opinions, and advance political agendas. PBS and Google both have free online resources to help teens learn media literacy. You can also encourage your teen to question what they see online and model healthy skepticism.

Setting healthy boundaries with technology 

Proactively putting some boundaries in place and managing them mindfully can help your teen have more affirming experiences with social media. Talk with them about when and how they’ll use social media. Identify parameters for the types of content or features they should avoid. Encourage them to review the accounts they’re following often and unfollow any that are sharing content that seems problematic.

Discuss the importance of real-world activities and relationships with your family, and establish screen-free zones and times. For instance, your teen might have to put their phone away during meals, use social media for limited blocks of time, and enjoy more privileges once their homework is done. Or perhaps no phones in bedrooms at night. Don’t forget that the basic rules should apply to everyone in the family, including adults.

When social media impacts mental health

Digital media can quickly start to interfere with other parts of a teen’s life. It may affect their mood, behavior, social life, and self-worth. Problems stemming from social media use have been linked to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression or eating disorders. They may also exacerbate other existing mental health conditions. If you notice any changes of this sort, the best approach is to let your teen know what you’re noticing in a non-judgmental way. Ask open-ended questions and let them share their feelings without interruption. Then ask how they feel about exploring treatment options together.

Lightfully is here to help teens build a healthy body image and sense of self-worth

Building a healthy sense of self-worth is an ongoing, life-long process. Social media has a lot of potential to create and reinforce negative self-perceptions. However, it can also be a way for teens to find inspiration and connect with their friends in uplifting ways. The accounts they follow, the ways they interact, and their boundaries around social media use make all the difference.

At Lightfully Teen, our licensed clinicians offer personalized primary mental health care for all-around mental well-being. We help teens with real-life situations, including social media use, by focusing on four core life processes: thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. We help teens build strong support systems and become more resilient while working through their mental health challenges. Each program includes family therapy sessions and support groups with other teens.

Are you concerned about a teen in your life who’s struggling with social media? We can help. Contact us to ask about an assessment today.