Worried About Your Teen on Social Media? Here’s How to Help – The New York Times

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook has known that its app, Instagram, can be toxic to its younger users, especially teen girls. The report revealed some frightening statistics found in internal Facebook presentations. 

The researchers reportedly found that 32% of teen girls and 14% of teen boys said that when they feel bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse. Another statistic revealed that among teens who reported suicidal thoughts, 6% of American users traced the issue to Instagram. These numbers are alarming, especially to families and educators who care for teens on a regular basis.

As we know, Instagram (and social media in general) is not going anywhere. So how can we empower students to navigate social media positively?

Christina Caron of  The New York Times interviewed The Social Institute’s founder and CEO, Laura Tierney, and other experts in the field, to provide families with advice on how to help students develop a healthier relationship with Instagram and other social media apps. Read the full article here.