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Setting limits and staying safe: Teens sound off on being ‘Social-Network Smart’

Genesee Perez’s social media feed is as varied and creative as her interests. Whether posting photos of her three dogs or her gecko Spike, sharing stories of her adventures, or enjoying artists showcasing glassblowing and other creative endeavors, Perez finds inspiration and entertainment on several platforms.

But while the Chicago 18-year-old appreciates the ease of staying in touch with friends and family near and far, she knows that the experience is not always positive. With many daily demands on her time, she recognizes that these apps can compound the problem.

“It is very easy to be engrossed and lose track of time,” Perez said. “That’s what social media is made for, for you to keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling.”

Another challenge arose when Perez had to decide whether to unfollow a friend whose posts were becoming increasingly negative. “It was really difficult, because I did view them as my friend,” she said. “But once I started seeing all this negative stuff, I had to decide that no, it was not OK for me to be around this.”

She’s not alone. A 2018 Pew Research Center study found that 97% of teens use social media, with some 45% admitting to being online “almost constantly.” A number of studies have linked increased social media use with higher levels of teen anxiety and depression.

When hours spent scrolling through posts began to affect his schoolwork, Baruch Murphy, 19, realized he’d become addicted.“It’s instant gratification, the same as with any other kind of drug,” said the Mountain View, California, teen.

Another online resource, though, helped both teens regain and maintain their balance: “Be Social-Network Smart,” a free educational video on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“Social media is a powerful tool that can accomplish good when used responsibly or cause great damage when it is misused,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for the Christian organization. “Like any other powerful tool put in the hands of someone inexperienced, training is needed, not just for teens, but also for parents. We’ve made a real effort to provide resources on jw.org that will help people make smart choices when using social media.”

One of the tips Baruch made his own from the video? “I have a rule: I only follow people I personally know,” he said.

He also set alerts on his phone to notify him when it’s time to close social media apps. “If you don’t set limits, there will be no limits,” he said.

Journei White, 18, of Houston, used the same method after realizing she, too, was having trouble putting down her phone.

“As soon as I got a ‘ding,’ I had to look at it,” she said. “One post turned into another, and I found myself losing track of time. I had to take a step back and set boundaries.”

When choosing what to share, Journei began to follow what “Be Social-Network Smart” terms the “front page rule.”

“Certain things might be nice to share with a few people,” she said, “but I wouldn’t want them on the front page of a newspaper. I try to think about that any time I post on social media.”

She took to heart the video’s safety reminders, too, like waiting till she’s home from a trip to post vacation pictures and keeping personal information private.

Concerns for his privacy and the good reputation he’s worked hard to build led 18-year-old John Joseph Gonzalez to opt out of social media entirely.

“In the ‘Be Social-Network Smart’ video, it said posting on the Internet can be like writing in permanent ink,” said the Fort Myers, Florida, teen. “I never want to look back on one little post that wasn’t the smartest and be ashamed.”

John Joseph said steering clear of social media hasn’t isolated him; it’s made him more sociable—and happier too.

“It’s forced me out of my comfort zone and helped me make real friends in person,” he said. “Whether you have social media or not, it’s just as possible to be a good friend.”

Other free resources to help evaluate the impact of technology use on friendships, family life and more are available on jw.org, featuring content in more than 1,000 languages.