{"id":19865,"date":"2025-08-23T17:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T16:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=19865"},"modified":"2025-10-21T20:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T19:58:09","slug":"how-does-social-media-affect-teenagers-and-is-it-positive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2025\/08\/how-does-social-media-affect-teenagers-and-is-it-positive\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers, and Is It Positive?"},"content":{"rendered":"<header id=\"page-header\" class=\"relative z-[30]\">\n<div id=\"page-nav-container\" class=\"Navigation fixed top-0 w-full transform transition ease-in-out duration-300 bg-brand-white\">\n<div class=\"relative z-50 nav-loaded\">\n<div class=\"Navigation__bar relative transition ease-in-out duration-300 h-[5.5rem] background-\">\n<div class=\"px-4 sm:p-[45px] h-full transition-all duration-300 py-3.5\">\n<div class=\"relative flex justify-between items-center h-full w-full\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-start items-center gap-[18px] md:gap-10 w-full\">\n<nav class=\"Navigation__desktopMenu ml-auto sm:w-full\">\n<div class=\"relative flex w-full\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">by\u00a0<\/span>Jessica Forbes, Digital Content Executive,\u00a0Digital Safety Hub &#8211; 21 August 2025<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">From cyberbullying to misinformation, social media can present real challenges for teenagers, but it also provides ways to learn, connect, and grow.\u00a0Here is a concise, practical guide:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Inside, you\u2019ll find takeaways designed to help carers, educators, and parents guide teens toward safe and balanced online experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2025\/08\/how-does-social-media-affect-teenagers-and-is-it-positive\/jess-highlights\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19868\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19868\" src=\"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jess-highlights.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"411\" height=\"295\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This could be a valuable resource for <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\">drugprevent.org.uk<\/a> in promoting digital well-being &#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<article id=\"advice-2492\">\n<section class=\"Post__Template relative py-14\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row justify-between container\">\n<div class=\"Post__Template-content w-full sm:w-2\/3 md:w-3\/4\">\n<div class=\"-mx-1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\">Social media often gets a bad reputation when it comes to how much time children and teens spend glued to their phones \u2013 but there are lots of ways that social media can be a tool for good in the hands of a teen.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-19866\" src=\"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Girl-on-media.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1238\" height=\"689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Girl-on-media.jpg 1238w, https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Girl-on-media-640x356.jpg 640w, https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Girl-on-media-1024x570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Girl-on-media-768x427.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1238px) 100vw, 1238px\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"w-full h-[35vw] relative overflow-hidden rounded-2xl mb-10 md:mb-20\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"relative block md:block lg:block text-content-dark\">\n<div id=\"content-section-2\" class=\"container animate-content-embillishments\" data-content-embellishments-colour=\"text-content-dark\">\n<div class=\"Text-Block-Simple relative\">\n<div class=\"Heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong><span class=\"body-large-two\">The Ups and Downs of Teens and Social Media<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Text mt-8 md:mt-9 md:w-9\/12 md:ml-auto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Social media issues for teenagers can be rife, and most parents are aware of the dangers. Cyber-bulling is a real problem, and studies show that too much time spent on social media can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and depression amongst teens who compare themselves to unrealistic ideals they see online.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">While these are serious concerns, as a foster carer, you can make social media a positive experience for your foster teen by helping them to be aware of the risks and empowering them to take advantage of the benefits. You can also help your teen to limit the negative consequences by encouraging them to enjoy social media in moderation. Teens need time to enjoy life offline \u2013 exercise and face-to-face socialisation are both important for their growing brains and bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">In fact,\u00a0a 2019 study\u00a0found a strong link between the negative effects of social media and a lack of exercise brought about by too much time spent online. That means balancing time on devices with plenty of physical activity can help mitigate some of social media\u2019s more harmful effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"relative block md:block lg:block padding-top-sm text-content-dark\">\n<div id=\"content-section-3\" class=\"container animate-content-embillishments\" data-content-embellishments-colour=\"text-content-dark\">\n<div class=\"Text-Block-Simple relative\">\n<div class=\"Heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong><span class=\"body-large-two\">How to Encourage Healthy Social Media Habits for Teens?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Text mt-8 md:mt-9 md:w-9\/12 md:ml-auto\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong><span class=\"body-large-three\">Empower your teen to use social media safely<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Talk about what is safe to share online and what isn\u2019t, and make sure your foster teen knows what to watch out for to avoid online predators, scammers, and cyberbullies. Teach them to recognise false information and to think critically about what they read and see online.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Help them understand the risks to their mental health and self-image and decide together how to deal with these feelings if they come up. Make sure they know how to change their privacy settings on different platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Looking for more guidance on internet safety?\u00a0The UK Safer Internet Centre\u00a0has a host of resources for teens from 11-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"body-large-three\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Encourage self-expression<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Not only can social media be a great way for teens to explore new things like art, culture, and history, it\u2019s also a versatile tool for self-expression. Many creative teens use social media to showcase their own art and performances, while others use it as a platform for building a unique personal brand through what they share and how they engage with online communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Using social media in this way can teach a teen digital skills and build an online presence that will put them in a good position for future education and job prospects. You can help your teen build their digital skills through online and in-person courses, such as photo\/video editing and content creation. Check out\u00a0BT\u2019s Skills for Tomorrow portal\u00a0for a host of free family resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"body-large-three\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Keep connected<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">For foster children, social media can be a useful way to keep in touch with old friends and family members and build important connections for the future. It also helps many teens strengthen friendships and build communities around shared experiences and interests \u2013 particularly when it\u2019s not possible to see one another in person (like when schools are closed, or across long distances).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Being a teen can be lonely if you feel like you don\u2019t fit in, but you can always find someone who\u2019s interested in the same things you are online \u2013 whether that\u2019s someone who loves the same band you do or someone from a similar cultural background.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"relative block md:block lg:block padding-top-sm padding-bottom-xs text-content-dark\">\n<div id=\"content-section-4\" class=\"container animate-content-embillishments\" data-content-embellishments-colour=\"text-content-dark\">\n<section class=\"Multi-Columned__Ctas relative\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col md:flex-row -my-4 md:my-0 md:-mx-4\">\n<div class=\"flex-1 py-4 md:py-0 md:px-4 cta-blob-trigger\">\n<div class=\"w-full h-full relative rounded-3xl overflow-hidden text-content-dark\">\n<div class=\"Multi-Columned__Ctas__content h-full relative z-10 px-3 py-5 sm:px-5 sm:pb-24 md:pb-32\">\n<div class=\"Multi-Columned__Ctas__button relative mt-4 sm:mt-0 sm:absolute sm:bottom-5 sm:left-5\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;\">Inspire your foster teen to do good<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"relative block md:block lg:block text-content-dark\">\n<div id=\"content-section-5\" class=\"container animate-content-embillishments\" data-content-embellishments-colour=\"text-content-dark\">\n<div class=\"Text-Block-Simple relative\">\n<div class=\"Text mt-8 md:mt-9 md:w-9\/12 md:ml-auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">With the world more connected through social media, teens today have access to a lot more information on global issues \u2013 and many more ways to have an impact. Consider 17-year-old Greta Thunberg; in two years, she\u2019s been able to reach a global audience with her message of fighting climate change and now has an Instagram following of over 10 million.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Help your teen find an issue that they care about and encourage them to get involved and have a positive impact, such as promoting community initiatives and organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"body-large-three\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Be involved<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Model healthy social media use by not looking at your phone during meals or family activities, and limit screen time close to bedtime.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Follow your foster teen on social media and make time to chat with them \u2013 in person and in a non-judgemental way \u2013 about what they and their friends are posting and seeing online. Share interesting and educational feeds with them and keep communication open so your teen knows they can talk to you if they see or experience anything upsetting online.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Divider mb-3 mt-12 md:mt-[98px]\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"Divider__Component relative animate-content-embillishments\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\">Teenagers can be truly inspiring with the passion and energy they bring, but many teens suffer without a safe space to grow up. If you have the room to give a young person a stable and supportive home, get in touch today. You can also read our article about fostering teenagers here.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong>Source:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.compassfostering.com\/advice\/teenagers-and-social-media<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by\u00a0Jessica Forbes, Digital Content Executive,\u00a0Digital Safety Hub &#8211; 21 August 2025 From cyberbullying to misinformation, social media can present real challenges for teenagers, but it also provides ways to learn, connect, and grow.\u00a0Here is a concise, practical guide:\u00a0 Inside, you\u2019ll find takeaways designed to help carers, educators, and parents guide teens toward safe and balanced [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,143,19,61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-social-media","category-usa","category-youth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19865"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20134,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19865\/revisions\/20134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}