7 secret signs your kid is addicted to social media revealed

Are you worried your child is addicted to social media?

Nearly a quarter of adolescents are, according to a study published in Current Psychology.

Online privacy expert Trevor Cooke from EarthWeb shared the common behaviors that could signal your child is addicted to social media.

Cooke advises parents to converse with their children to “explain why using social media responsibly is important.”

He also suggests setting clear boundaries on when and how they can use certain social media sites and monitoring that activity.

However, if it becomes too much, Cooke recommends seeking professional help for your child to learn to have a healthy relationship with technology and social media.

The expert shared seven signs your child may be addicted to social media and need to reevaluate their relationship with it or see a professional.

1. Hobbies take a backseat

“Is your child using platforms like Instagram or Facebook at all hours of the day and night?” Cooke asks. “When hobbies, studies, and social interactions take a backseat to scrolling through feeds, take notice.”

He advises that parents check the time tracking features on their child’s devices to gauge how many hours a day are spent on social media apps.

2. Constant need for validation

The expert suggests that parents gauge how much their child cares about the reactions and attention they receive on social media.

“Does your child exhibit an unhealthy preoccupation with the number of likes, shares, and comments they receive?” he questioned.

“This constant need for validation could impact their self-esteem and mental health,” Cooke advised. “It’s important to let them know that these metrics have nothing to do with their worth as a person, or how much other people like them.”

3. Mood swings 

Cooke implores parents to consider if their child exhibits irritability, anxiety, or sadness when not using social media.

“This behavior could be a sign of withdrawal symptoms, which are indicative of addiction,” he noted.

4. Decline in physical activity

The expert warned that children may be avoiding physical activities and time outdoors to stay inside scrolling on social media.

Children ages 6 through 17 years are suggested to enjoy an hour of physical activity a day to promote healthy growth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as a sedentary lifestyle has been proven to have negative impacts on one’s health.

Cooke recommends activities like family hikes or joining a sports club to help encourage physical activity and social connection.

5. Neglect of responsibilities

“It’s important to encourage them to complete all their other obligations before they open any social media apps,” Cooke said.

He explained that children who are addicted to social media may begin to neglect important tasks such as homework, chores or other obligations, like caring for a pet.

When this avoidance of responsibilities can have lasting consequences on their academic and personal development.

6. Disrupted sleep patterns

Cooke noted that excessive social media use, especially before bed, can disrupt sleep patterns in people of all ages — particularly in children.

Health experts have now found that late-night screen time is a primary cause of social jet lag, which then greatly increases the risk of psychological problems among teens.

Research has also shown that blue light from phones, tablets and TVs may induce early puberty.

The lack of sufficient sleep can affect their mood, academic performance, and overall health.

7. Social withdrawal

Social media addicts may withdraw from in-person interactions as they increasingly become uncomfortable face-to-face communication preferring to hide behind a screen.

“This can affect their social skills and lead to feelings of isolation, as they get left behind by their peers who are getting the correct amount of face-to-face interaction,” Cooke noted.

“Encourage your child to interact more in person by helping facilitate get-togethers, like for example hosting their friends at your house or giving your child a lift to somewhere they can hang out in person with their friends.”