A recent Fact Check video presented by the Partnership to End Addiction focused on the link between Social Media and Substance Use. It brought to light some powerful truths that, for some teens, the line between the virtual world and the real world may sometimes become blurry.
Although social apps and websites may be marketed as a safe and fun online place to interact with family and friends, there is also a dark side that can shape the way teens feel about substance use. Social media may influence teens to experiment with dangerous substances such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Kids are influenced by images of young people partying and may think that is the only way to have a good time. Some companies, such as electronic cigarette producer JUUL, take advantage of this to market addictive substances to children and teens even though it is illegal to do so. Marketing tricks like hiring social media influences to promote vaping products and offering promotional giveaways to attract school-aged students have helped create a new generation of youngsters hooked on nicotine.
Although social apps and websites may be marketed as a safe and fun online place to interact with family and friends, there is also a dark side that can shape the way teens feel about substance use. Social media may influence teens to experiment with dangerous substances such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Kids are influenced by images of young people partying and may think that is the only way to have a good time. Some companies, such as electronic cigarette producer JUUL, take advantage of this to market addictive substances to children and teens even though it is illegal to do so. Marketing tricks like hiring social media influences to promote vaping products and offering promotional giveaways to attract school-aged students have helped create a new generation of youngsters hooked on nicotine.
Children and teens need adult guidance when it comes to the realities and dangers of social media usage. What you post can adversely affect important relationships, hinder potential job opportunities, and impede your goals. A good tip is to get in the habit of pausing for a minute to think before posting to avoid sharing impulsive images and messages that you may later regret.
What
Can Parents & Caregivers Do to Keep Their Children Safe?
*Keep a
watchful eye on your child’s social media use to be aware of the sites they
may be visiting
*Discuss potential dangers of interacting with people they don’t know over social media
*Help teens think through consequences of online actions and dangers of
participating in trending challenges
*Remind youth that what others post may be how they want things to appear and not reflect reality
Parents should remind their teens that after scrolling the internet, they will return to living in the real world. And that's the world in which we need to live our lives - not the virtual one.
For more tips and resources to keep your children safe and drug free, visit www.drugfree.org
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