How to Navigate the Impact of Social Media on Teens as a Therapist
By Paul Wozniak
Technology and social media have altered the way we connect with each other and navigate the world. For today’s teens, these tools are essential to daily life, affecting not only their social interactions but their self-image, mental health, and well-being.
As a therapist working with adolescents, understanding the effects of social media on their lives is crucial for you. Social media directly influences their struggles, and it’s easy to overlook its impact. Read on to learn more about how you can work with teens as it relates to social media!
How Does Social Media Impact Teens?
Teens today are the first generation to have immediate access to the internet and social media from childhood. Online communication is now often their primary mode of social interaction — and many teens spend more time online than talking face-to-face.
While social media can be beneficial, by fostering connections and creativity, it also contributes to increased anxiety, depression, and issues related to body image, self-esteem, and identity. Many teens feel pressured to conform to influencer ideals.
It’s easy to minimize social media’s impact — that’s just “what teens do,” right? However, as therapists, you must assess the impact of social media in your clients’ lives.
Common Issues and Presentations in Therapy
Therapists must stay alert to the impacts of social media on their teen clients. The issues teens bring to therapy might seem like typical adolescent struggles — like body image concerns or difficulty focusing — but these problems can be compounded or even caused by social media.
Here are some common issues seen in practice:
- Body Image Concerns: Social media emphasizes idealized body types and lifestyles, leading to dissatisfaction, negative self-image, and even eating disorders.
- Social Media Addiction: Clients may struggle to moderate screen time, find themselves constantly refreshing their feeds, or use social media to escape negative emotions.
- Reduced Resilience: With less opportunity for “free play” and physical activity, teens experience less failure and disappointment, and may be less capable of emotional regulation.
Online vs. Real-Life Identity: Teens may over-identify with their online friends and community and lose touch with real-life relationships, leading to feelings of isolation or confusion about their identity.
How to Assess Social Media Use in Teens
When working with teens, it’s crucial to assess both the quantity and quality of their social media usage. Start by asking concrete questions about the time they spend online — and instead of allowing for an estimate, ask them to check their actual screen time statistics during the session. How much time do they think they spend online? How much time are they actually online?
Next, dig into the why. Connection, entertainment, or escapism? Are they scrolling aimlessly or engaging in meaningful conversations? How does social media make them feel — joyful, connected, fulfilled? Or does it lead to regret, anger, or loneliness? How much time do they spend engaging in real-world hobbies and activities?
Understand how your teen clients relate to both their online and offline communities. This will help you understand whether social media supplements or replaces face-to-face relationships.
How Does Social Media Affect the Therapeutic Relationship?
Working with teens requires a unique set of therapeutic skills on the part of the therapist — particularly when dealing with the struggles caused by social media. It’s essential to build rapport and trust: Teens often have strong feelings about their social media usage and can be defensive. Establish a therapeutic alliance based on genuine curiosity and understanding, and never judge.
One key skill: Being genuine. Teens can smell insincerity from across the room, so be authentic. Focus on being a relatable and supportive adult figure who can help with tough emotions. A lighthearted joke or a corny reference can break the ice, but openness and authenticity wins trust.
Nonjudgmental listening is another key skill. Adolescents are highly sensitive to perceived criticism, so approach every conversation with curiosity and an open mind. You might have concerns about their social media use, but avoid sounding dismissive or judgmental.
If you as a therapist have an emotional reaction to what your client discusses, ask for clarification: “I think I might be reacting to what you said — can you help me understand?” This opens the door for exploration without alienating the client.
Common Signs of a Social Media Problem in Your Clients
Pay attention to these key behavioral signs:
Take Bobby, a 15-year-old client who spends hours scrolling Instagram. He has few in-person friends and tends to socialize online. Bobby shows signs of low self-esteem, frequently comparing his life to influencers. His grades are slipping, and he’s becoming isolated. Bobby’s use of social media may be more than just a harmless pastime—it could be a factor in his anxiety and depression.
Or Jenna, a 16-year-old who uses social media to escape hard emotions. She scrolls TikTok to avoid confronting loneliness and self-doubt. Although she reports that social media helps her feel “connected,” she often expresses regret afterward and has trouble coping with negative emotions.
Lastly, consider Mark, a 17-year-old who actively participates in online communities but rarely engages in in-person activities. He forms opinions and shapes his identity based on what he reads online but feels increasingly disconnected from his real-world peers — and he’s worried if he goes to therapy, he’ll no longer be able to relate to his online friends. Avoiding in-person social interactions may hint to social anxiety or an over-reliance on virtual validation.
Solutions for Navigating Social Media Use in Therapy
We can help teens create healthier relationships with social media by offering empowering strategies to help them take control of their online activities.
- Motivational Interviewing: Use motivational interviewing techniques to help teens align their social media use and their personal goals. You might say, “You’ve mentioned wanting to make more friends at school, but your phone use seems to be getting in the way. What’s one small step we can take to help you balance both?”
- Promote Self-Awareness: Encourage teens to reflect on how social media affects their mood, time, and relationships. Awareness of social media’s emotional impact may help them make conscious choices about how they engage with technology.
Expand Their Community: Encourage participation in in-person activities like sports, clubs, or volunteer work, which provide valuable opportunities for face-to-face interaction, emotional growth, and social skill development.
How we can help
Through a combination of assessment, skill-building, and supportive interventions, therapists can help teens navigate social media and enjoy healthier, more balanced lives. If you are seeking clinical consultation as a therapist for your work with teens, reach out today! Firelight Supervision offers virtual individual and group clinical consultation and can help you gain the skills to feel more confident when working with teens. Schedule a Free 20-minute Phone Consultation to learn more!
Author Bio
Paul Wozniak is a clinical supervisor at Firelight Supervision. He is licensed in Colorado and specializes in a wide variety of clinical presentations, including mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, ADHD, psychotic disorders, substance abuse, and trauma in both adolescent and adult populations. Paul is a dedicated clinician and clinical supervisor, and greatly enjoys helping therapists refine their clinical skills. Follow Firelight Supervision on Instagram and Facebook.