The American Psychological Association (APA) has;issued guidance;on how teenagers should use social media.
;Scientific studies have;shown that social media can have adverse effects on the mental health of teenagers and children.
- The;report, which features 10 recommendations,;encourages parents to closely monitor their children's social media feeds between the ages of 10-14.
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Parents should minimize their children's exposure to harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, disordered eating, racism, and bullying.
- APA noted that previous research shows that this type of content can make children more likely to engage in damaging behaviors.
- Parents should seek to ensure that their kids are not exposed to "discrimination, prejudice, hate, or cyberbullying," because such content could lead to depression and anxiety.
- APA encourages parents to limit their children's exposure to beauty-related content, which is linked to body image issues and depression, particularly among female social media users.
- The report urges parents to monitor their kids for "problematic social media use" that may harm them over time.