7 Ways to Help Your Child Suffering From Social Media Addiction + Low Self-Esteem
As parents, it can be difficult to watch your children struggle with the negative effects of social media. Unfortunately, many kids are becoming addicted to their devices and suffering from low self-esteem due to online comparisons. If you’re a parent whose child is struggling with this issue, here are 7 tips that may help:
1. Set limits
It’s important for parents to set clear rules around how much time their children can spend on social media each day or week. Consider setting an alarm when it's time for them to log off and do something else instead!
2. Monitor usage
Make sure you know what your child is doing on social media by monitoring their accounts regularly (if they're old enough). This will help you keep track of any concerning behavior or interactions they might have online so that you can address them quickly if necessary.
3. Talk openly about cyberbullying
Let your kids know that cyberbullying is not okay in any form and encourage them to talk about anything troubling they experience while using these platforms. This will allow both of you to identify potential issues early before things escalate further down the line.
4. Encourage positive posts
Encourage your children to post more positive and uplifting content rather than focusing solely on themselves; this could include sharing uplifting stories, inspirational quotes, jokes, etc. Doing so helps boost self-esteem as well as promote positivity amongst peers!
5. Be aware of ‘likes'
Remind your child(ren) not to take 'Likes' too seriously; at the end of the day, it’s just a number and shouldn't define who they are! Explain the importance of staying true to oneself regardless of what others think, say, or do, and focus on being kind towards one another instead of comparing themselves based upon superficial metrics like popularity.
6. Focus on real-life relationships
Spend quality family time together without phones present where everyone has the chance to bond without interruption from the digital world. Encourage your child to meet other children with shared interests, for example, sports teams or interest groups like chess clubs. Kaiya provides such communities where children are encouraged to show up as authentically themselves, with all their passions, hopes, struggles, and growing pains, teaching them research-backed therapeutic skills at a low cost.
7. Teach healthy coping mechanisms
Showing our young ones different ways to cope during tough times is an essential part of growing up. Teaching skills such as mindfulness meditation and breathing exercises are invaluable tools to help handle stress and anxiety. Kaiya is an excellent research-backed therapeutic resource to help your children learn the skills they need to thrive and deal with life’s inevitable challenges, at a low cost.
8. Seek professional advice if needed
If all else fails, do not hesitate to seek professional advice. It’s always a good idea to speak to someone impartial who understands the situation and can better provide tailored guidance accordingly. Kaiya is happy to be a low-cost resource for you.
Photo by Natasha Hall on Unsplash.