1 Intense Concern of Social Media and Teenagers
By: Sarita Barthuly
November 20, 2024

1 Intense Concern of Social Media and Teenagers


There is an increasing concern linked to social media and teenagers in today’s society. This is a pattern that I consistently keep running into when it comes to working with teenagers. Social media. To older generations, social media is something that they never had to deal with growing up and I have heard a lot of my older clients mention how happy they are that they
didn’t have to grow up in a world where social media existed.

Social media has caused today’s teenagers to have to learn how to balance two different worlds and it can be overwhelming.
Imagine having to go to school and deal with socializing just to go home and keep on doing it until you go to bed. That’s what today’s teens are having to do. Home used to be a safe space where teens could go home, rest, and take a break from other kids, or a place where they could escape from bullies or harassment.

In today’s world that isn’t the case. The bullying and harassment that kids might face at school can now follow them anywhere, even home. This causes a great concern for a lot of parents and teenagers that I work with. If home isn’t safe,
where is?


Using social media allows for anyone to have access to us almost 24/7. This sounds absolutely
exhausting. One of the main things that I encourage my clients to do is to limit the time that they
spend on social media. I understand that sometimes it’s fun to scroll for hours and hours or talk
to your friends until odd hours of the night, however, it isn’t good for your mental health overall.
Allowing constant access to you leads you to be vulnerable and worn out. By limiting time that
you spend on social media apps you can protect yourself from harm and give yourself a much
needed break.

I know that FOMO is real, but sometimes it’s worth it to miss out on something
small to take care of yourself and your own mental well-being. So, either talk to your teenager
about the dangers of social media and how to regulate it, and if you’re a teen reading this, take
a breather from social media. The same things will be there for you tomorrow.