How does social media and other media influence teenagers?

Teenagers can be very smart consumers of media messages. They don't just take on board everything they see and hear on social media or in other media. You can help them develop the skills they need to handle media influence.

Media influence on teenagers can be deliberate and direct. For example, advertising is often directed at children and teenagers. This means that children and teenagers are increasingly conscious of brands and images.

Media influence can also be indirect. For example, this might include sexualised images and content on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and YouTube. It might also include violent imagery and coarse language in news media, documentaries, video games and some song lyrics. This kind of media influence can suggest to teenagers that certain ways of behaving and looking are 'normal'.

Positive social media and other media influences on teenagers

Here's the good news: social media and other media can be positive influences on teenage behaviour and attitudes.

Citizenship
Teenagers who are exposed to and take an interest in news media are more likely to be interested in major social and political issues like climate change. In this example, media can encourage them to become more involved as citizens in their communities.

Health and lifestyle
Teenagers can also pick up important health promotion messages from social media and other media. This might include messages aimed at preventing youth depression and suicide, promoting positive, respectful relationships, or encouraging healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

Identity
Good-quality stories in television shows and movies can help teenagers explore aspects of identity like sexuality, relationships, gender or ethics - for example, the treatment of sexuality in a movie like Bohemian Rhapsody, or gender in Ride Like a Girl, or ethics in a TV show like The Good Place. Watching these shows with your child is a great opportunity for discussion.

It's always worth remembering that media - good and bad - is just one of several influences on teenage behaviour and attitudes. Other influences include family, friends and peers, cultural background and more. Often these influences can be more powerful than media influence.

Negative social media and other media influence on teenagers

Media messages can have a negative or unhealthy influence on teenage behaviour and attitudes in certain areas, including body image, health and citizenship.

Body image
Your child's body image is influenced by social media, other media and advertising. If teenagers see unrealistic 'thin' or 'muscly' body types often enough in the media they follow, it can have an impact on their body image and dieting behaviour. This is especially true when there's no-one to disagree with messages like 'thin is beautiful'.

Health and lifestyle
Social media and other media can influence the decisions that teenagers make about their health and lifestyle. For example, media messages and content can make it look 'normal', cool or grown-up to eat junk food, smoke, drink alcohol and take other drugs.

Citizenship
To be responsible citizens, teenagers need reliable and good-quality information. But social media and other media are sometimes used in negative ways during elections and at other times. For example, 'fake news' might influence teenagers to believe false information about a politician, public figure or celebrity. Or sometimes online forums promote biased or hateful attitudes towards groups of people.