Is Your Child's Social Media Use a Problem?
Answer 8 quick questions to see where your child falls on the spectrum — from healthy connection to warning signs that need attention. If you're co-parenting, answer based on what you observe in your own household.
How often does your child check their phone for social media?
Is social media the first thing they check in the morning and last thing at night?
Have you noticed mood changes connected to social media?
Does your child compare themselves to others they see online?
Is social media affecting their real-life relationships or activities?
How do they react when asked to put their phone away?
Has social media affected their sleep or schoolwork?
Trust your gut: how worried are you about their social media use?
Good News: Your Child's Social Media Use Looks Healthy
Your responses suggest your child has a balanced relationship with social media. They're connected but not dependent, and you're not seeing the warning signs of addiction.
That said, you're here for a reason. Maybe you want to keep it this way. Maybe they're asking for their first account and you want to set it up right.
"I downloaded TikTok to understand what my students were experiencing — and got hooked within weeks. Even adults struggle with these platforms. If you want to set boundaries that will keep social media healthy as your child grows, I can help you get ahead of problems before they start."
You're Not Overreacting: These Are Real Warning Signs
Your responses show patterns many families experience — the constant checking, the mood changes, the sense that their phone has become an extension of their hand. This isn't full addiction, but it's also not nothing.
The good news: this is exactly the stage where intervention works best. Before scrolling becomes compulsive. Before comparison becomes their default thinking.
"Most families I work with are in this zone — worried enough to search for answers, unsure if it's 'bad enough' to get help. It is. I got hooked on TikTok trying to help parents, so I understand how quickly these platforms take hold. This is the window where small changes make the biggest difference."
Your Concerns Are Valid: This Needs Attention
Your responses indicate social media has become a significant issue in your family. The patterns you're describing — the anxiety, the comparison, the inability to disconnect — are signs that scrolling has moved beyond healthy use.
This isn't about blame. These platforms are designed by thousands of engineers to be irresistible. Your child isn't weak. But they do need help.
"I experienced this myself. When I downloaded TikTok, I couldn't stop scrolling even when I knew I should. The shame of wasting time but being unable to put it down — your child feels this too. I know what's happening in their brain, why the algorithm has such a grip, and how to break it. Let's talk."