Boone County Alliance | Social Media & Cyberbullying | Risks, Prevention & Safe Practices

Help Your Child Use
Phones & Social Media Safely

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive substance. It contains compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which interact with receptors in the brain and body, producing effects such as relaxation, euphoria, altered perception of time, and increased appetite.

Balance screen time with real-life activities.

Impact on
Mental Health

Teens using social media for over 3 hours daily are at higher risk of poor mental health, including depression and anxiety (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023).
Middle school-aged cyberbullying victims are almost twice as likely to attempt suicide than non-victims. (https://explodingtopics.com/blog/cyberbullying-stats)
25% of LGBTQ high school students who were bullied attempted suicide at least once in the past year (Trevor Project)

Signs of Unhealthy Social Medial Use

Schoolwork suffers: Choosing screens over studying.
Lost interest: No longer enjoying hobbies.
Constant checking: Always looking for updates.
Multitasking: Using social media while doing other activities.
Irritability: Upset when unable to check feeds.

Why is Social Media so Addictive?

Dopamine boost. Social media increases brain pleasure chemicals, making it addictive.

Tips For Healthier Social Media Use

Kids (Ages 6-10)

Limit screen time: Encourage play without devices.
Phone advice: Check American Academy of Pediatrics and CommonsenseMedia.org.
Non-smart phones: Look at WaitUntil8th.org.
Device-free zones: No devices in bedrooms or during meals and an hour before bed.

Tweens/Young Teens (Ages 11-13)

Family media plan: Use resources like ScreenSanity.org.
Supervise: Know platforms and contacts.
Set limits: Balance screen time with real-life activities.
Parental controls: Use tools like Aura, mSpy, FamilyKeeper.
Internet safety: Keep personal info private and avoid strangers.
Privacy settings: Allow communication only with approved friends.
No devices before bed: Stop an hour before sleep.

Teens (Ages 14-18)

Supervise: Know what social media they're using.
No devices at bedtime: Stop using devices an hour before bed and charge them outside the bedroom.
Think before posting: Remind them that online posts can last forever.
Privacy settings: Teach how to control who sees their info.
Cyberbullying: Discuss what to do if they face it.
Media literacy: Encourage fact-checking and skepticism.