COVID, Teens, and Social Media

​by Kathy Cap, LLPC, NCC

Kathy Cap is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. She is a graduate of Oakland University with a Masters in Counseling and joins Trinity after a number of years in a solo practice. Kathy enjoys working with couples, and adults of all ages, including those older adults facing an array of life transitions related to health changes, loss, and caregiving.

Raising teenagers is challenging under the most normal circumstances.

​Throw in a pandemic, quarantine, and an abrupt end to the school year, and you have a trifecta of turmoil. During the ages of 13-17, it’s normal for our kids to pull away and spend less time with the family, but right now that separation is impossible. These kids have no choice but to retreat into the world of TikTok and Instagram. While this may be convenient and allows us to take care of business during the day, it can also become very isolating for our teens.  For many of us, not becoming the ‘phone police’ has been a challenge.  The anxiety comes from being aware of everything our teens’ impressionable minds have access to on the internet, and the endless amount of free time they now have available to them.
 
While our concern is justified, this is a chance for us to sit down with our kids and learn about what their cyber world looks like. What are their interests? Who do they choose to follow, and why?  After all, these platforms have a lot of influence over our kids’ thoughts and feelings, not only about the world but, about themselves.  While some of this information can help kids escape from loneliness and stay connected with their peers, some of it may also increase their anxiety. Connecting with your kids over their social media is a great way to begin those tricky conversations and help alleviate some of your concerns.