Do you ever wonder if social media is actually helpful? Social media can be useful at times, but when it comes to your mental health, it may not always be.
A recent study found that children and teens typically spend between five and seven hours a day on their devices, none of which includes homework. Of that time, over half is spent on social media platforms. Another study done in 2025 said that children and teenagers who were on social media platforms like TikTok, Youtube, Snapchat and Instagram had difficulty interacting with peers and their guardians and struggled with a short attention span, depression, anxiety, insecurities regarding social media stereotypes and suicide in some serious cases.
The recommended amount of screen time for kids is two to three hours a day. However, even at Seabury, children regularly exceed that recommendation significantly. Eighth grader Kennedy Michael spends about five to six hours a day on social media: “I don’t get enough sleep at night since I started scrolling on TikTok, and it takes longer for me to do homework because I get distracted easily.” Another Seabury student, Evangeline Miles, said that social media soothes her when she can’t sleep. She adds, “Social media really hasn’t had an effect on me.”
Even our teachers have a love-hate relationship with social media, with Coach Brian Rios reporting he is on social media daily. He mentions why he likes it and why he doesn’t: “The older I get, the more people I get connected with. People I have met throughout my life [have] either moved away or I moved here. I feel like I will continue to keep the connection with my friends that no longer live close to me.” When asked if social media affected him in a negative way he responded by saying, “Oh, for sure. I feel like I could be more productive, doing more things for my community or myself. I find myself doomscrolling a lot more than I probably should.”
I also sought insights from Seabury’s resident expert, guidance counselor Kalli McClure. With respect to social media, she said “Like anything, I think it’s about finding a good balance. It’s important to notice which parts of social media affect you positively and which affect you negatively because there will always be both. For example, I love that there are social media campaigns that combat body shaming, mental health issues, bullying and many of the other factors that shape teenagers’ identities. However, those same platforms have normalized using filters that create impossible beauty standards for young people who are already vulnerable and dealing with developmental changes.” I agree with McClure because I believe social media can be okay in moderation.
Whether you want to quit social media altogether or find a healthy balance, here are some tips to help you manage your relationship with social media:
The Cold Turkey Method: The cold turkey method is when you immediately quit, this method may be quick, however it is hard to maintain.
Gradual Reduction: Slowly reduce the amount of time you spend on social media.
Selective quitting: Slowly start quitting certain social media platforms. One week you quit Youtube, the next week you quit TikTok, and eventually you’ll be social media free.
Time Restricted use: Each day you set a timer for a specific amount of time each day, slowly decreasing the time, and after a few weeks you should meet your goal.
The research I have done has enlightened me on this subject and I hope this has done the same for you. Now you know that while social media has its benefits, it is important to figure out what works best for you.
