As another school year wraps up in Eastern Iowa, kids will be out of the classroom and around their peers less for a few months. But in the age of social media, the connection is almost constant – and the summer break can be the ideal time for parents to check in with their teenagers to make sure their social media use isn’t becoming a detriment to their mental health.
Dr. Jonathan Platt is an assistant professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health’s epidemiology department. In an April Q&A, Dr. Platt looks at the correlations between young people, social media, and mental health.
“Adolescence is a critical period for identity development and peer connection,” he says in the release from the CPH. “Social media fundamentally alters how teen relationships function, intensifying social comparison and feedbackseeking during a stage of life when these processes are already heightened.”
In May 2024, Dr. Platt and his colleagues also published “Recognizing and Mitigating the Mental Health Risks of Social Media Use in Adolescents: A Guide for Parents and Schools.”
“Teens with strong inperson relationships, healthy sleep habits, and parents who communicate openly about social media tend to be more resilient,” Dr. Platt says.