However, as UKAT residential rehab facilities only treat social media addiction in those aged over 16, for parents of younger children, Fernandes adds: “Our advice would be for parents to speak to their child’s GP about their social media usage.
Fernandes says: “Observing the behaviour of the child when they’re not on social media will allow parents to better understand whether their child’s relationship with social media has become unhealthy and addictive in nature or not.
Parents should observe their child’s behaviour when they’re not using social media, he advises, and ask if they can still get up, shower, eat and go to school, have a healthy, verbal conversation with you and their family or friends, are still doing well at school, and if they’ve spent any money that they shouldn’t have on social media.
Fernandes explains that using social media releases dopamine into the brain as a reward, and it’s experiencing this neurological response that encourages young people to use social media again.
How to tell if your child is addicted to social media Almost half of British teens say they feel addicted to social media, but is yours?.
