How to protect your children from the dangers of social media

A new generation is coming of age in a world of cell phones and social media… the first to grow up learning “phone” like a language. And the language is something most parents don’t understand or speak fluently. In aNew York Times Opinion Piece, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek MurthyThere is growing evidence that there is a link between social media use and the deteriorating mental health of teenagers and children. Therefore, social media platforms should carry a warning label about mental health issues, similar to the health risk labels on cigarettes. Parents need support these days. Here are some tips on how to protect your children from the dangers of social media.

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Studies on the mental health of teenagers have shown Prolonged time spent on social media platforms can lead to depression, anxiety and disconnection when “self-esteem is formed between the ages of 10 and 19.” What can parents do to mitigate the damage and potential impact of social media on the brains of tweens and teens? Here are tips on how to protect your children from the dangers of social media.

Preeti Davidson from the Unpleasant Podcast has teamed up with Curt Dalton to launch Maya4Lifea comprehensive 8- to 12-week program that works with teens on confidence, self-esteem, and learning the difference between external and internal validation. The program works one-on-one with teens to develop a new sense of self-worth that is not based on social media Confirmation symbols such as hearts, thumbs up and likes.

“For parents who can't stand their kids' social media accounts, Maya is the perfect choice,” says Preeti Davidson. “So many parents don't know what to do when their teen starts posting explicit or unhealthy images online to get attention or external validation.”

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Preeti Davidson graduated from Columbia University and has worked in the education and rehabilitation field for over 20 years. “Teens need self-esteem and confidence above all else so that they are not susceptible to the dopamine rush of seeing likes and hearts on their social media posts. With Maya4Life, teens develop their own 'brand' that they want to be and present to the world in the future.”

“I have raised three teenagers and over 7,000 cannabis-based articles over the past eight years give me a unique perspective on the social pressures today's teens face regarding vaping, smoking, underage drinking, and advanced dating activities,” says Curt Dalton, a University of Chicago graduate and director of Cannabis.net. “Talking to teens about the world they live in right now and the social pressures they face, rather than our adult world and the pressures we face, is a huge paradigm shift. They are under constant pressure to drink, smoke, vape nicotine and cannabis, and do things we may not have had access to 30 years ago,” says Curt Dalton.”

Maya4Life also covers educational topics such as How to get your kids to clean their roomswhat signs you should look out for possible self-harmand a What drug do parents of teenagers have to worry about the most right now? Maya also works with parents on role modeling and how to set their child on the path to success in life, even when there are issues to overcome, such as intergenerational trauma or personal challenges at the parent or child level.

“Maya4Life helps teens create the life they want and love, alongside their parents, not in spite of them,” says Preeti. “Once you heal some of those wounds and build a loving relationship with your teen or tween, you will feel so much joy and fulfillment in being a parent again!”

For more information, see Maya4Life.com and their YouTube channel.