The amount of time teens spend on social media is raising eyebrows among Illinois parents.
One mental health advocacy group says youths in rural areas are spending about five hours a day on social media to counteract social isolation and a lack of peer connection, which can lead to behavioral changes.
NAMI Illinois works to improve the quality of life for people with mental health conditions and their families through support and education. Its executive director, Sara Gray, said the issue is not about one platform, but how algorithm-driven content interacts with youths who already are experiencing a mental health crisis.
“Adolescents are in a critical stage of development, and young people are forming their sense of self that is largely built around how they identify themselves with their peers,” she said. “Research links high social media use with lower self esteem and body concerns and strongly connected to depression.”
Changes in personality or sleeping patterns, falling grades, or a lack of interest in activities are all red flags of social media addiction. Gray suggested that parents set boundaries around sleep times, keep phones out of bedrooms and create screen-free moments throughout the day.
There’s little consensus on who should be responsible for monitoring TikTok and other social media platforms. Some say parents should take control, while others feel content developers should follow mandatory guidelines for content advertised to teens.
Gray said she prefers a model of shared responsibility, but she does place much of the blame on those in control of the platforms.
“There is growing recognition that these systems are not neutral, that they’re designed choices, especially those algorithms, shape what young people see,” she said, “and this needs to be more transparent.”
She added that parent and caregiver roles are also critical because strong family relationships can help protect young people from manipulation.
