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.
American teens ages 12-15 who used social media more than 3 hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety, and depression.1 Excessive social media usage is also linked to 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 last year, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory that called attention to the potential harm social media is having on youth mental health.4 A recent survey underscores the challenge:5
- 45% of surveyed teens saying they spend too much time on social media, up from 36% in 2022
- 1 in 5 surveyed teens say social media sites hurt their mental health
- 55% of parents are concerned about the mental health of their teens
In other words, teen social media use affects 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. But it’s not enough just to offer those benefits; employees also must know how to access them and get the care that’s right for their teen’s severity level. That’s where 24/7 In-the-moment telephonic support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can come in handy. Employees can call any day, time and place and get connected to a specialist that can help coordinate their teen’s care.
For instance, a behavioral health coaching program for youth and their caregivers 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 may also be helpful. The Calm Health app, which is available to kids and teens with parental consent, is an additional way 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, especially highlighting solutions for lower severity conditions.
- 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.
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