4 Signs That Your Teenager Is Misusing Social Media

Social networks are such a frequent and common element that, in case their use caused psychological problems, we would have realized it a long time ago.

However, it is true that in some cases, they can facilitate the emergence of behavioral patterns that damage mental health, especially in the population that uses them the most: adolescents. This means that although the simple fact that a young person regularly uses digital platforms such as Instagram or Tik Tok does not have to worry us, there is a certain probability that through this habit dysfunctional behaviors and poor management of relationships will begin to develop. emotions linked to important aspects: self-esteem, the way of relating to others, the way of feeling part of a group, etc.

In this article we will see a summary of several warning signs to know how to detect when a teenager is misusing social networks

Signs that indicate that a teenager is making inappropriate use of social networks

Although it must be taken into account that each case is unique, these are some behavioral patterns that usually indicate the presence of dysfunctional ways of using social networks by adolescents.

1. Constantly manage your public image on the Internet

Self-esteem problems are relatively common in adolescents And the fact is that the stage of adolescence coincides with a moment in which there is a challenge to adapt to some of the roles of adulthood, on the one hand, and at the same time, one does not have the experience and psychological maturity to do so. smoothly and autonomously, on the other.

The result is a feeling of almost constant tension between what is done and what one feels that the environment demands, and in this sense, beauty canons and fashion trends are a source of very strong social pressure on adolescents, since at this stage a lot of importance is given to the approval of peers (that is, people of the same age).

That is why some adolescents, and especially women, They are obsessed with hiding what they consider physical imperfections and showing their side that is most in line with current aesthetic codes This can mean spending several hours a week editing or choosing photos to publish, for example.

2. Make “default” use of social networks

The mechanics on which social networks work mean that we are constantly bombarded with new content, second by second; Furthermore, these are virtual environments that are easily accessible by simply taking your smartphone out of your pocket, and Much of the social life of adolescents occurs on the Internet because all the other boys and girls are there almost all the time.

For this reason, many adolescents begin to feel that every minute they spend without being exposed to a source of stimuli comparable to this one is wasted time, and they feel the need to immerse themselves in the screen when they are not doing another activity incompatible with it: sitting on the screen. table to eat with your family, go to the bathroom, etc. This impoverishes their development and can also lead to disorders by the simple fact of always submitting to the same type of stimuli and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

3. Manage your sadness or anxiety with the “scroll”

The propensity to feel loneliness is an aspect that affects many adolescents, due to several factors: the fear of showing their vulnerabilities due to the feeling that everything is beyond them, the idea that others can make fun of them, and even indecision about how they should express their feelings because they have doubts about their identity.

For this reason, many young people tend to isolate themselves when they feel bad, not because they believe that that is what they need, but because They don’t see other possible options in a situation like this And entering social networks and making passive use of them (constant scrolling to see the latest updates of what people publish) seems to be a recurring habit in many teenagers who go through this. It is a simple action to perform and does not include the complexity of having to examine or verbalize your emotions and feelings and having to manage them, which is why it is problematic because it does not facilitate psychological maturation.

4. Direct your search for experiences to what can earn you “likes”

This pattern of behavior can even lead them to put themselves in dangerous situations, or generate frustration for investing too much time in it but at the same time not wanting to stop receiving that external validation

Are you looking for professional psychological support?

If you are interested in counseling or psychotherapy services for people of all ages, we invite you to contact us. In Psychology For We have been working in the field of psychological assistance for 20 years, and currently we offer therapy for children, adolescents and adults, as well as neuropsychology, speech therapy and psychiatry services. In addition, the sessions can be in person (in our center located in the Goya neighborhood of Madrid) or online, via video call. Our contact information is available on this page.