APA recommends literacy training for adolescents before social media use

Key takeaways:

• The American Psychological Association advised that adolescents undergo social media literacy training.
• Other recommendations include limiting access to harmful content and monitoring for problematic usage.

The American Psychological Association has outlined new guidelines suggesting adolescents be trained on social media literacy before using those platforms, according to a press release from the organization.

The recommendations were outlined in a report published by the APA.

In addition to social media literacy, the APA recommended that adolescents’ developmental capabilities — such as self-regulation and intellectual development — be taken into consideration when determining what content and social media functions are appropriate.

“Social media is neither inherently harmful nor beneficial to our youth,” APA President Thema Bryant, PhD, said in the release. “But because young people mature at different rates, some are more vulnerable than others to the content and features on many social media platforms that science has demonstrated can influence healthy development.”

The APA also suggested limiting exposure to content featuring illegal activities or harmful behaviors such as restrictive eating or self-harm, as well as content promoting prejudice, discrimination, hate or cyberbullying, according to the release.

Other recommendations included setting time limits on social media use to ensure adolescents get enough sleep and physical activity, limiting social media use for appearance-related content and monitoring for usage that cuts into daily routines.

The APA’s report is based on current research; however, it also calls for additional research funding and access to more data.

“We hope these recommendations will be helpful as we all try to keep pace with the rapidly shifting social media ecosystem,” Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the APA, said in the release. “APA will continue to keep tabs on developments within the current and future platforms, with an eye toward safeguarding our youth and enabling them to benefit from the positive aspects of social media.”

References:

• American Psychological Association. Health advisory on social media use in adolescence. https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use. Published May 2023. Accessed May 11, 2023.
• APA panel issues recommendations for adolescent social media use. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/05/adolescent-social-media-use-recommendations. Published May 9, 2023. Accessed May 11, 2023.