What Teens Want Adults to Know About Digital Life

An important read for parents and caregivers. [Common Sense Logo]( Hi, It's a fact: Kids are on their phones and social media more than ever before. If you're concerned, you're not alone—so are other parents and caregivers, teachers, and mental health experts. But what do teens themselves have to say about the digital world? A new book by Common Sense partners and collaborators Carrie James and Emily Weinstein, [Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing]( (and Adults Are Missing), explores this question. It's an insightful read for parents and caregivers everywhere looking to help kids navigate our 24/7 connected world. Here's a brief look at just some of what the book—and teens—have to say … … about social media: For many teens, technologies are a non-negotiable for friendship preservation. There's no way to opt out without major social repercussions. They wish adults would acknowledge this reality. "I think it would be nice if adults realized that our entire social life is linked to social media. It isn't like when they were kids, where your social times were mostly during school. Nowadays, if you aren't on social media a lot, you won't have as many friends. It's all linked to it." … about friendships: [T]eens worry that not being available will jeopardize closeness: "If I don't [stay connected] I'm worried I'll miss out on something and won't be as close to them," one 13-year-old said. "If you don't text your friends for a while then they just come up with the dumbest excuse to cut you off," explained another … [W]hile adults may see what looks like thoughtlessness or "phone addiction," teens are often navigating a constellation of hidden social motivations, pressures, and expectations. … about digital drama & cyberbullying: Social media enables a host of ambiguous acts that can leave teens anxiously puzzling about others' intentions … Teens want adults to know that they see online drama is "as serious and harmful" as drama in real life—and at times even worse. If someone wants to be mean, they can be relentless. "Even if you escape it on one platform, they'll probably find their way to the next—and it's just a whole, like, cat-and-mouse game." … about digital footprints: Adults often assume that teens can control their digital footprints, if only they try harder or act more responsibly. Teens want adults to recognize that they cannot be solely, perfectly in control of their privacy or their digital footprints. ("Sometimes we don't have control over social media.") Friends or peers can post pictures they do not want online and it's complicated, socially, to ask them to take them down. To learn more, visit [](. Thank you for all that you do to help improve the lives of kids everywhere. The team at Common Sense Media [Get answers to FAQs]( [Privacy policy]( [Manage email preferences]( Common Sense Media 699 8th Street, Suite C150 San Francisco, California 94103 © 2022 Common Sense Media. All rights reserved. [Unsubscribe](