A groundbreaking California court decision this week held Meta and YouTube accountable for causing mental health damage to young users, marking the first successful lawsuit of its kind focused on social media addiction.
The landmark ruling has energized medical professionals and child advocates who believe it could trigger sweeping reforms across the social media industry.
“I am excited about the outcome of the litigation, in part because we’ve had basically seen these platforms sort of go unregulated for many years … and they didn’t really consider, that much, the effects on children,” Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, told The Associated Press.
Mental health professionals view this legal milestone as an ideal time for families to reassess their approach to social media usage. Here’s expert advice for parents on discussing social platforms with their children and implementing protective measures.
Countless families now grapple with screen time conflicts, concerns about online dangers, and the challenge of getting children to stop endless scrolling as part of managing today’s digital childhood environment.
Despite years of available articles, studies, podcasts and social media content offering screen time guidance, specialists emphasize that simply communicating with children remains the most effective parental strategy.
Inquiring about what children find appealing online, which content creators they follow, their interaction patterns, and their feelings about various apps can provide valuable insights into their digital experiences and prove more effective than imposing strict regulations.
Jenny Radesky, the division director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, said the best way to begin conversations is with open-ended questions and “leaving space for teens to share their opinion.”
“By listening as a parent, it lets you peek under the hood to understand how your child is thinking about things. It’s way easier to solve a tricky problem when you really understand your child’s perspective, instead of just trying to force a new limit,” Radesky said.
Radesky recommends starting discussions by asking children about content they encounter — material they find amusing, engaging, disturbing, interesting or annoying. Parents can then explore whether their child encounters unwanted content and discuss solutions like adjusting their feed, viewing only friends’ posts, or taking platform breaks.
However, establishing social media boundaries requires individualized approaches. Radesky suggests structuring guidelines around a child’s wellness and requirements rather than restrictions that may seem punitive, helping children learn healthy social media habits.
“As the parent, you know your kid best,” Radesky said. “You’ve seen their anxious days. You’ve seen those days when they’re out of control. You know what really grabs their attention and what calms them down. So think of all of your solutions centered around who your kid is.”
Professionals recommend implementing timers, establishing device-free areas, or taking multi-day social media breaks as effective strategies.
“It helps teens be more intentional about getting what they want out of their phone or out of that social media site — not it turning into this mindless, ‘Oh, I’ve got nothing else to do so I’ll just keep scrolling,’” Radesky said.
Understanding each child’s particular requirements, usage habits, and difficulties remains essential for developing effective solutions.
Does social media disrupt their sleep schedule? Keep devices downstairs overnight. Do they scroll continuously for hours? Use 20-minute timers as reminders to disconnect. Do they browse out of boredom? Plan weekly family activities as alternatives.
Parents frequently wonder about the appropriate age for children to begin using social media platforms.
Most major social media companies require users to be at least 13 years old, mainly because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act that limits data collection from younger users. Yet enforcement remains weak since verifying ages during app registration proves difficult.
Some states have also enacted laws preventing children — sometimes up to age 16 — from creating accounts without parental approval.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against social media use before age 13; “That doesn’t mean you need to start an account at age 13. Many kids benefit from waiting longer,” Radesky said.
Beyond platform registration, growing numbers of parents, teachers, and technology specialists advocate delaying smartphone access until children mature. Some families have embraced the “Wait Until 8th” initiative, committing to withhold smartphones until eighth grade, typically around ages 13 or 14.
Regarding social media behavior, experts stress that parents must demonstrate positive examples.
“The most powerful thing that parents can do is actually model good behaviors, because kids sometimes respond more to what they see than what they’re told,” Vidal said.
While phone use sometimes becomes necessary, professionals suggest parents explain their device usage around children. Rather than mindless browsing, parents might be checking work messages, researching dinner recipes, or handling bills.
Ultimately, if parents want children to modify their social media habits, they should collaborate together. Vidal recommended using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ family media plan — a complimentary online resource that generates personalized social media recommendations.
“This is not just a problem that teens experience. The designs are in everyone’s feeds and everyone’s social media,” Radesky said. “So try to make a change together.”
