The WHO report, which found rates of problematic social media use among adolescents increased from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022, says such use involves addiction-like symptoms including an inability to control social media usage, experiencing withdrawal when not using it, neglecting other activities in favour of social media, and facing negative consequences in daily life due to excessive use.
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.
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.
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.
Gardner also suggests parents worried about the time their child spends on social media should find out what parental controls are available on each platform, and talk to their child about how to navigate social media responsibly.
