Ned Rubin writes that safeguards for young people should include both policy discussions and stronger family support.

Ned Rubin, Doña Ana Resilience Leaders

A 2024 Pew Research Center survey reveals that nearly half of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 are online “almost constantly,” primarily using YouTube, TikTok and Instagram through smartphones and computers. While most young people understand that excessive social media use harms sleep, school performance, productivity and mental health, awareness alone does not prevent harm. For many, usage becomes highly problematic.

Research indicates that the heaviest digital media use is significantly more common among young people who have faced adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. These stressful events include family conflict, divorce, parental substance abuse, household mental health challenges and abuse. The greater the adversity a child experiences, the higher their risk for problematic social media use. Furthermore, studies suggest that heavy adolescent social media use may increase vulnerability to behavioral and substance-related issues later in life.

Society has long recognized the need to protect children from products that harm their health and development. Just as we restrict alcohol and tobacco, policymakers should seriously consider age-based safeguards for social media access — measures already being implemented or debated in countries including Australia and Canada.

However, prevention must extend beyond regulation. By reducing family stress and childhood adversity, we address the root causes that leave young people vulnerable to various addictions and challenges. Families can also have open discussions about online behavior, set screen-free times, turn off nonessential notifications and pay attention to emotional responses to online interactions. There are some differences in social media use, as well. Girls are more likely to have high use of social media, while boys are more likely to show high use of video games.

The Doña Ana County Resilience Leaders are dedicated to strengthening families, reducing childhood adversity and building healthier communities. We invite you to join our efforts.

For more information on preventing adverse childhood experiences, family trauma and social adversity — and on efforts to ensure Doña Ana County residents have access to vital services for surviving and thriving — contact Doña Ana Resilience Leaders at dacrl.org.

Ned Rubin is a retired addiction and health psychologist and trainer. Since retiring here from the Midwest, he has become involved in the Resilience Leaders of Doña Ana County and is chair of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Doña Ana County. He is a member of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council and a consultant and trainer of medical prescribers on the best practices of opioid prescribing for chronic pain and the prescribing of buprenorphine, all to help reduce the negative impact of opioids in our community.