The Pulse from UnitedHealthcare: Impacts of social media on teen mental health and parents
Dr. Donald Tavakoli shares how employers can play a role in supporting parents as they help their children manage social media and its effects.
By Dr. Donald Tavakoli, National Medical Director of Behavioral Health for UnitedHealthcare
In today's digital age, social media is a double-edged sword. While it offers unprecedented connectivity, its impact on mental health, especially for adolescents1 and their parents or caregivers, cannot be ignored.
Research has shown that excessive social media use can contribute to a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression1 and poor body image.2 These issues are particularly pronounced in adolescents, whose brain development may be significantly affected.3
The situation is so dire that U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory that called attention to the potential harm social media is having on children’s mental health.4 According to the report, 95% of teens ages 13–17 said they used social media, with more than a third saying they used it “almost constantly.”4
Teen social media use also affects working parents. As a father, and a licensed and board-certified psychiatrist, I know that when employees’ kids are struggling with their mental health, body image or social experiences, it can have a major impact on the caregivers’ own health. This includes absenteeism and on-the-job distraction.
Finding a solution to this issue that’s plaguing many working parents and their children requires a coordinated approach. Offering robust behavioral health benefits is not just a perk — it may be a necessity. By acknowledging the complex role social media and mental health plays in children’s lives, employers can tailor their health benefits to provide appropriate support systems to help employees find the care they need along a continuum.
A behavioral health coaching program for youth and their caregivers, for instance, may be helpful in addressing a variety of concerns, including social media overuse. Providing tools and resources, like conversation starters for discussing mental health with children and educational apps like Calm Health (geared toward teens and adults 16 years and older), are additional ways we’re seeking to help families better manage their overall well-being.
3 practical tips for employers
- Educate teams: Conduct workshops or send out communications that aim to educate employees about the effects of social media on mental health, while also pointing out benefits able to help support their employees’ families.
- Promote healthy digital habits: Encourage employees to set their own boundaries on social media use during work hours and at home, such as conducting regular digital detoxes, modeling responsible social media behavior, fostering and encouraging in-person relationships and leveraging digital well-being resources.
- Build a supportive environment: Foster a culture in which employees feel comfortable discussing mental health issues, whether through regular check-ins or more impromptu open and honest conversations.
