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Social Media Safety
Taking Better Steps on Social Media:
A Toolkit for Parents and Teens
For many teens and young adults, social media is a part of life. Healthy social media use has many benefits. For example, social media can help teens expand their social networks, provide easy communication, allow teens to explore and develop their identities, and allow them to showcase their creativity.
As with most things, however, social media is best in moderation.
Using social media too much—or using social media for negative purposes—can have harmful impacts on mental wellness. This toolkit provides resources for parents and teens in exploring how to use social media in a healthy and responsible way.
Resources for Parents
Healthy Teen Social Media Use: Guidance from Professional Organizations
Demystifying Social Media: Resources for Promoting Healthy and Safe Use
- Safe Social Network – Parent ResourcesÂ
- Common Sense Media – Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between
- Internet Matters – Social Media Advice Hub
- CNN – A Guide to Parental Controls on Social Media
- Family Online Safety Institute – Good Digital Parenting Resources
- American Psychological Association – Social Media and the InternetÂ
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – What You Should Know About Social Media
- Child Mind Institute – How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers
- Child Mind Institute – When are Kids Ready for Social Media?
- Safer Schools Together – Internet Lingo and Slang Terms
- Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles – Teens and Social Media: What Parents Should Know
- University of Michigan Medicine – Social Media Use is a Double-Edged Sword for Teens. What can Caregivers do?
- UCLA Health – Healthy Social Media Use for Children and Teens
- Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics – Social Media Use in Children and Adolescents
Having Tough Conversations: Talking to Your Teen About Social Media
Resources from DBHIDS and Healthy Minds Philly
- Blog Post – Social Media Use in Small Doses
- Policy Unit Issue Brief – Potential Negative Impacts of Social Media Use on Youth Behavioral Health: Encouraging Responsible Use
Resources for Teens
How Might Social Media Affect Your Mental Wellness?
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation – Social Media’s Concerning Effect on Teen Mental Health
- National Public Radio – 10 Things to Know About how Social Media Affects Teens’ Brains
- The British Broadcasting Corp. – Social Media: How (Some) Use can be Good for Teenagers
- DBHIDS Policy Unit – Potential Negative Impacts of Social Media Use on Youth Behavioral Health: Encouraging Responsible Use
Tips for Reducing Your Screen Time and Social Media Use
- Oregon Public Broadcasting – Can’t Stop Scrolling? Ideas from Teens for Curbing Your Social Media Habit
- Healthy Minds Philly Blog – Social Media in Small Doses
- American Psychological Association – Reducing Social Media Use Significantly Improves Body Image in Teens, Young Adults
- Digital Futures Initiative – 10 Ways to Spend Less Time on Social Media and Reduce Additive Side Effects on Teens
- The Jed Foundation – Understanding Social Media Use and Balance
- University of Utah Health – Tips for Healthy Social Media Use: For Parents and Teens
Taking a Break from the Digital World: Free and Low-Cost Activities in Philadelphia
- Get Outdoors! – The 26 Top Parks in Philadelphia
- Not Just a TV Show:Â Parks and Rec
- Discover Philadelphia! – 30+ Free and Budget-Friendly Things to do in Philadelphia
- Visit Philadelphia! – Top Free Things to do in Greater Philadelphia
- UWISHUNU – The Insider’s Guide to Greater Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Weekly Calendar
Community Tragedies: Social Media Use and Gun Violence in Philadelphia
Peer Perspectives: Healthy Minds Philly Blog Posts from Young Philadelphians
How Social Media Trends Can Lead to Self-Criticism by Vaughn Coleman
How I Survived Social Media by Brielle Canady
Social Media Palm Cards
Social Media Tips for Teens
Social Media Tips for Parents
Need Help Now?
Numbers to Know and Places to Go
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 215-686-6440Â
- Community Behavioral Health Member Services: 888-545-2600Â
- Care Connect Warmline: 484-278-1679Â
- Children’s Crisis Response Center
3300 Henry Ave., Falls Center 2, Suite 3N
Philadelphia, PA 19129
215-878-2600
- PATH Children’s Urgent Care Center
Korsin Building
1919 Cottman Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19111
215-728-4651
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