Summer can be a particularly contentious time for families with regard to social media use, as kids are home from school with a relaxed schedule that allows them more time to spend on devices, sparking concern from parents.

Too much time spent on social media is not healthy.

WellSpan pediatrician Dr. Caroline Hall can tick off the inherent dangers of excessive social media use: cyberbullying, interference with sleep, obesity, delays in social skills, behavior problems, and increased depression and anxiety.

Statistics demonstrate the impact. A 2019 study by the American Medical Association showed that teens who spend three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression. But teens actually spend more time than that – nearly five hours a day, according to a Gallup poll.

Almost half of adolescents say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies, according to a survey by a group called the Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab. And a Pew Research Center survey found that 74% of teens actually feel happy, and 72% feel peaceful, when they don’t have their smartphones on hand.

The risks posed to kids’ health by social media are so dire that Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy recently asked Congress to place labels on them, like you see on the side of a pack of cigarettes, warning that their use can be harmful to your health.

Should Congress decline to place the surgeon general warnings – or even if it does – parents have an important role to play in helping their kids develop a sense of balance and live a full, happy life, Dr. Hall says. It’s a topic she addresses regularly in her patient visits.

“Parents often tell me they’re concerned that their child spends too much time playing video games or on the phone, but they admit that everyday busy life make it seem impossible to restrict digital media use,” she says. “And as a parent of three myself, I can relate to these practical realities! It’s easier to allow continued usage rather than deal with an upset child. And while it’s clear that no one plan fits all, I feel it’s my job as a pediatrician to work together with parents to develop a plan that works for their family.”

Here are some tips from Dr. Hall about how to navigate the challenging digital landscape with your children:

• Start by setting a healthy example. Don’t be constantly checking or scrolling on your own phone, particularly when you are spending time with your children or family.
• Talk to other parents of kids who are the same age as yours, particularly if your kids are younger and do not yet have cell phones. Consider banding together and adopting the similar rules on the age a child can get or use a phone or, if they already have phones, what restrictions are placed on it (hours of usage, times of day used) so kids can’t say, “I’m the only one who can’t…”
• As a family, collectively put your phones away an hour before bedtime in a central area, like a kitchen, to allow yourselves downtime before you go to sleep at night.
• Make certain activities “cell phone free” such as the dinner table, family gatherings, family activities such as game night or mini-golf, or sporting or musical events. Focus on the time together not taking selfies or photos of your surroundings.
• Going on a vacation? Use phones only for practical purposes, such as booking activities or getting directions, not as entertainment when you have down time.
• Consider sitting down with your kids and drawing up a family media plan that works for your family. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this tool.
• As a parent, if you are concerned about your child’s behavior, such as a withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy, please talk to your child’s pediatrician or doctor about it. We are here to help. Find a pediatrician or family doctor here.