There are many articles and stories out there discussing teen anxiety and also the impact of social media. In fact, it is estimated that teenagers spend, on average, about 9 hours a day on social media platforms.
Social media has become a “third space” for teens, where they do a lot of their socializing. They are interacting with each other, sending messages and sharing photos and videos as a way to bond.
However, social media isn’t always a comfortable, welcoming place. Issues such as peer pressure and bullying, something that many teens face in real life (also known as “IRL”), have also moved online. Social media and peer pressure unfortunately go hand and hand and are very present in many teens’ lives.
Facing bullying and peer pressure in person or online can lead to anxiety for teens.
How does this happen? Social media amplifies and intensifies access to teen’s lives, while also providing anonymity that removes accountability.
And what can be done about this problem? There are a lot of ways to tackle the issues of social media, but dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, can be a great resource for teen anxiety related to social media.
The Echo Chamber of Social Media
First, let’s consider the echo chamber that is social media. Somebody posts something, and that gets amplified by other people. You’ve probably heard the term “gone viral” to describe this phenomenon. But what happens when a teen sees something that’s been posted about themselves online? What about criticisms of parts of their identity?
Social media pressures can be particularly tough if there have been posts made by one of their friends. Suddenly, other teens pick up on the post, comment on it, and re-share it. Quickly, it feels that everyone is discussing this post, scrutinizing your teen or something about their identity. Now imagine this as a constant possibility, and that you’re surrounded by other teens with phones who are ready to comment on anything that happens. That’s certainly anxiety-inducing.
How can being online increase Pressure to Be Perfect?
Another way that social media can cause teens anxiety is the pressure to be perfect online. That means that only photos and videos that look good and portray your teen as happy, positive, etc. are acceptable. Everything online has to be polished. So what happens when your teen doesn’t feel that way at all?
If your teen is struggling with depression, self-consciousness over their appearance, a growth spurt, a bad haircut, yet they still feel pressured to present themselves in ways they don’t actually feel, that causes stress and anxiety. The same would be true in the real world, but it’s amplified online. Have you ever felt obligated to act and talk in a certain way to put up a front that everything is okay, when, in reality, you are really struggling?
How does Social Media amplify Negativity?
As mentioned above, social media is often like an echo chamber. That’s great if you are viewing content that is affirming. It helps you to feel you are part of a greater community. But what happens when your teen is struggling? Have you ever heard the phrase “misery loves company?”
With the search features on social media platforms, teens seek out and find communities that might reinforce the negative thoughts and beliefs that they are already grappling with. These groups amplify this mindset, and in turn, heighten existing issues like anxiety. Your teen may also spend a lot of time arguing online, trying to defend themselves or others, spending a lot of time stewing in a terribly negative environment.
Your teen may also join in on dogpiles, peer pressure, and bullying. Nobody wants to think of their teen as a bully, but the online sphere makes it easy to impulsively say horrible things without much accountability.
What if your teen Regrets Sharing things online?
Teens are notorious for being impulsive and making poor decisions. That’s not a criticism of teenagers. It’s actually rooted in brain science and is just how they are (and often how they learn valuable life lessons). Human brains don’t fully develop until the mid-to-late twenties. So, when teens make decisions, they may not always put in the thought and intention that adults may do.
That leads to impulsive choices that, unfortunately, live online forever. You often hear a news story about a teen that posted something online that they shouldn’t have. The content gets shared with everyone, and suddenly everyone knows. And there’s nowhere to hide.
How Can DBT Help your teen?
One way to counter the social anxiety and general anxiety from social media comes from DBT. An advantage with DBT for teens is that it’s a skills-based approach to managing anxiety and other mental health problems; teens are already developing life skills, so adding DBT to their growth process can help them to learn useful skills they can use throughout their life. These include:
- Mindfulness
- Managing emotions
- Interpersonal effectiveness skills
- Distress tolerance
These skills will help your teen manage anxiety in the moment. That’s very useful. It allows teens to stay calm and not let their anxiety take control. It also means that you, as a parent, have a better chance of helping your teen, understanding what’s going on, listening, and providing support.
What are some DBT skills that can help your teen navigate social media (in a way that doesn’t reinforce their anxiety)?
- Opposite Action: When your teen’s emotions are pushing them to argue online, or seek out content that reinforces things they’re struggling with, they can do the opposite. Instead of logging on, they can go “touch grass” (or hang out with friends, or read a book, etc).
- Check the Facts: When your teen is feeling emotionally overwhelmed about something happening on social media, they can check the facts by examining what they’re feeling, what they’re assuming, and what’s really happening.
- The What and How skills: These mindfulness skills help your teen engage with the moment after they’ve been sucked into social media and are stressed about something online.
Suffolk DBT can help your teen to navigate social media and manage teen anxiety
Although social media affords people the power to form connections, it also causes anxiety too. The stress that teens used to face within the walls of the school from navigating complex social situation has now been transferred online. You can help your teen by being aware of how social media breeds anxiety, and recognizing when your teen needs help. Find out more today about how dialectical behavioral therapy for teens can help.
Click here for more on DBT for Teen Counseling.
Suffolk DBT proudly provides quality dialectical behavior therapy, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, at their offices in Manhattan and Long Island, New York and online. Their experienced NYC therapists specialize in serving teens, children, adults, and college students struggling with depression, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and self-harm. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills and treatment can help you or your kids to manage emotions and work through life’s challenge