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Parenting in the Age of
Social Media:
Helping Adolescents
Navigate a Digital World
Social media has adolescents exposed to a broad range of information and changed how teens socially connect with peers. 95% of teenagers own a smartphone, allowing them to obtain public and private information in real time. Parents need to understand the benefits and risks associated with these devices and social media on adolescent development.
(Pew Research Center, 2018)
U. S. Teens
with Smartphones
(Common Sense Media, 2019)
Having smartphones provides teenagers access to sites where they can watch videos, listen to music, play games, and connect on social media.
29%
of teens report more than 8 course of screen time per day.
(Common Sense Media, 2019)
11 years old
Average age a child opens their first social media account.
(Clark et al., 2018)
71%
of teens have a social media
account by
age 14.
(Pew Research Center, 2018)
Young People Describe Social Media
About the Author
Throughout my career I have worked with adolescents, emerging adults, and their families in mental health and school settings, providing therapy and direct service linkage.
I have seen the impact that technology, mainly the accessibility of cell phones and the emergence of social media, has on a young person's development. Wanting to better understand the benefits and risks of this medium, I continued my doctoral studies at Rutgers University and focused my research in this area.
Christine M. Caporuscio,
DSW, LCSW
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