How to tell if your child is addicted to social media

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, there’s a difference between a child using social media for longer than the parent wants them to, and the child actually having an addiction.” open image in gallery The WHO has noted a sharp rise in problematic social media use in young people The WHO report, which found rates of problematic social media use among adolescents increased from 7 per cent in 2018 to 11 per cent in 2022, says such use involves addiction-like symptoms including an inability to control social media usage, experiencing withdrawal when not using it, neglecting other activities in favour of social media, and facing negative consequences in daily life due to excessive use. “The user can disappear into the world of social media and live their life through everyone else’s online, making it incredibly difficult to value their own, real-world lives.” It may often be up to parents to look out for signs of problematic social media use, he says, as children and young people themselves may find it difficult. In children especially, this self-identification might be more difficult, so it’s up to parents to watch their child’s behaviour to look out for the signs and symptoms of social media addiction.” open image in gallery Safer Internet Day on February 11 is a good time to check social media useage of your children Parents should observe their child’s behaviour when they’re not using social media, he advises, and ask if they can still get up, shower, eat and go to school, have a healthy, verbal conversation with you and their family or friends, are still doing well at school, and if they’ve spent any money that they shouldn’t have on social media. “A family agreement also allows you as a parent to model the behaviour you want to see for your children’s social media use,” he points out.