Internet and social media usage for kids and teenagers can be a difficult topic for parents to navigate, but it can have a massive impact on teens' lives and health. That's why the American Psychological Association released a set of new research-based recommendations for families with teenagers, specifically those dealing with video consumption.
In an increasingly connected world, teens are spending more time online than ever. YouTube and TikTok are the top social media platforms for teens, who spend an average of 4.8 hours a day online, according to a 2023 Gallup report. The APA report released on Wednesday outlines the risks and potential hazards of videos for kids and strategies for mitigating them.Â
Many of the recommendations given this week echo what the APA and other medical experts and officials have been saying for years: The internet can be a great resource for education and community-building, but it can also pose health risks, particularly around body image and self-harm, and presents the potential for scams and exploitation. In addition to these evergreen recommendations, this year's report also delves into newer developments like AI-generated photos and videos.
You can read the full report, but here are the main highlights.
Look out for videos promoting risky behaviors
Many of the recommendations deal with the kinds of videos teens watch. The APA advises teens to limit viewing videos that "encourage violent or risky behaviors and/or reinforces negative stereotypes." That can cover a lot of different content. A couple of the examples the report calls out are stunt videos like dangerous dares or challenges, exposure to substance abuse, and aggressive or violent content.
On the flip side, the board recommends viewing more content that "promotes empathy, learning, emotional well-being and joy." The report mentions the impact this can have on teens' understanding of relationships and their ability to recognize and build healthy ones. Videos can help teens develop healthy relationship skills or they can reinforce biases, negative attitudes and stereotypes.Â
Read more: Parents Welcome Instagram Teen Accounts Amid Online Safety Worries
Talk about how to identify paid, deepfake and AI content
As AI services improve, it's getting harder to identify what's AI-generated content and what's created by a real human. Because of that, learning how to identify AI content is an important skill. The report calls out the importance of teaching teens to question the content they see, whether that's recognizing an unattainable body shape or an intentionally manipulated deepfake. Some social media platforms automatically flag posts that use AI, but they aren't always reliable.
The report also talks about the powerful persuasive power that influencers can hold over teens. Helping teens recognize the difference between a paid promotion and a personal recommendation is another way to help them gain critical media literacy. The APA also calls out the responsibility influencers have to "promote healthy, realistic messaging" if they have adolescent audiences and the role platforms should play in shielding younger users from unhealthy content.
Read more: Roblox's Latest Child Safety Updates Include Age Gates and Screen Time Limits
Screen time limits are (still) important
One of the most enduring and important pieces of digital wellness advice is to remember to step away from your screens. It's an oldie but a goodie for a reason. For teens, "excessive screen time contributes to lost opportunities in other activities that are critical for adolescent development, including sleep, physical exercise, exploration of and engagement with hobbies…and in-person social interactions," said the APA.
The APA doesn't give a recommended screen time limit in this report, but the World Health Organization advises less than 1 hour for kids under 5 years old, and other experts recommend adults curb their excessive screen time for their physical, mental and even financial health. For families struggling to set limits, my CNET colleague Vanessa Hand Orellana writes that families should find screen time rules that work for them and try to be flexible as needs may change as kids grow up.
For more, check out what's in Instagram's new teen accounts and the best apps to manage your screen time.