For many adolescents, taking selfies, or photographs of oneself, is an extremely common act. Often, these selfies are then posted on social media, where feedback can be received in the form of likes, comments, and other reactions from peers.
Social media platforms allow adolescents to have unprecedented opportunities for social interaction during a critical developmental period when their brains are especially sensitive to social feedback.
Published in Journal of Research on Adolescence (in press) Authors: Garrett, S.L., Burnell, K., Armstrong-Carter, E.L., Prinstein, M.J., & Telzer, E.H.
The New York TimesDespite the headlines, the impact of social apps on adolescent mental health isn’t so clear.
APA Speaking of Psychology PodcastEva Telzer, PhD, explains why teens take more risks and why that risk-taking is sometimes beneficial, why parents have more influence than they think, and how social media and other technology use may be affecting teens’ behavior and development.
CNN CNN’s Audie Cornish delves into the perils of social media and chronicles the journey of three separate families, united by their efforts to hold social media companies accountable for the content published on their platforms.
PBS NCSocial Media Affects How Teens See the World and Their Place in It
WRAL News WRAL’s On the Record discusses the connection between social media use and mental health.
Chapelboro.comA presidential panel of the American Psychological Association recently issued a “Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence,” with ten recommendations for teens and parents.
CNN HealthTeens on social media is a problem many parents and guardians have lost sleep over, but for which few feel there are real, practical solutions. Don’t worry, there are, experts say.