Surgeon General: “Social Media & Youth Mental Health” Plus 6 Digital Tools for Parents

Social media has become an integral part of teenagers' lives, but concerns about its impact on mental health continue to grow.

The Surgeon General’s recently issued advisory on social media use should serve as a wake-up call for parents; encouraging all of us to take proactive steps to protect our children’s mental health and ensure their safety online.

One such step is exploring the digital tools parents can use for monitoring activity and screening unsafe content. Below, we share our list of six recommended tools for your consideration.

Studies have found a long list of negative impacts associated with prolonged and unregulated online engagement.

They are, among others:

• Higher levels of social isolation

• Feelings of loneliness

• Depressive symptoms

• Feelings of inadequacy

• Low self-esteem

• Lower overall mental well-being

• Disruption of sleep patterns

• Disruption of melatonin production caused by blue light screens

• Compounded vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and depression caused by sleep deprivation

• Exposure to cyberbullying and online harassment, particularly if a teen is “canceled,” and increased risk of suicidal ideation, which often ensues

What can we, as parents, do?

Our recent blog Parents Guide to Monitoring Social Media Use shared a number of strategies for protecting children’s mental health from the risks of social media. In response to the dozens of emails we have received asking for specific digital tools, we have compiled the below list.

These tools provide features such as content filtering, time limits, and activity monitoring, all of which can help you guide your teen’s social media interactions. Be sure to choose the tool that best aligns with your specific requirements based on your child’s age and needs.

6 Digital Tools for Parents:

1. Bark: Bark is a comprehensive parental control app that monitors your teen's social media activity for signs of cyberbullying, online predators, and inappropriate content. It uses advanced algorithms to analyze texts, images, and videos, providing alerts to parents when potential issues are detected. Bark supports multiple platforms and messaging apps, allowing you to stay informed and take appropriate action to ensure your teen's online safety.

2. Net Nanny: Net Nanny is a powerful parental control software that offers a range of features to manage your teen's social media usage. It enables you to block or filter inappropriate content, set time limits on social media apps, and monitor their online activity. Net Nanny provides real-time alerts and detailed reporting, giving you insights into your teen's digital behavior and helping you guide them toward responsible social media use.

3. Screen Time: Screen Time is a built-in feature available on many smartphones, including iOS and Android devices. It allows you to set limits on social media apps, control app access during specific hours, and even block certain apps entirely. Screen Time also provides reports on app usage, giving you a snapshot of how much time your teen spends on social media platforms.

4. Kaspersky Safe Kids: Kaspersky Safe Kids is a comprehensive parental control tool that offers social media monitoring and content filtering capabilities. It allows you to track your teen's social media activity, block inappropriate content, and set time limits on their social media usage. Kaspersky Safe Kids provides real-time alerts and detailed reports, helping you understand your teen's online behavior and protect them from potential risks.

5. Life360: Life360 is primarily a location-sharing and family networking app, but it also includes features for parental control. It enables you to set time limits on social media use, monitor app usage, and receive notifications when your teen arrives or leaves specific locations. Life360 helps you strike a balance between your teen's social media engagement and offline activities, fostering a healthy and responsible digital lifestyle.

6. MMGuardian: MMGuardian is a comprehensive parental control app that provides social media monitoring and management features. It allows you to block specific apps, set time limits on social media use, track your teen's location, and receive alerts for potentially harmful online behavior. MMGuardian offers additional features like web filtering and text message monitoring, giving you a comprehensive toolset to ensure your teen's online safety.

We hope you find these tools helpful, and reiterate that it is equally important to establish open and ongoing conversations with your teen about responsible social media use.

Encouraging healthy online habits and maintaining your teen’s interest in offline activities will not only protect their mental health but will encourage a well-rounded lifestyle that will yield benefits for years to come.

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Daniel S. Holt is the founder of Washington based Anchorage Partners LLC