Social media and mental health: Delete the apps to protect child?

Instead of taking extreme measures, addressing underlying issues with a balanced approach can help young people navigate the digital world with more confidence.

Various studies have established links between excessive social media use and poor mental health outcomes among adolescents. PHOTO: REUTERS
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To give or not to give? The decision to hand your mobile device to your child can be a difficult one.

The next stage of this dilemma would be allowing access to the world of social media – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and, more recently, Threads. These platforms offer a multitude of benefits, from fostering social connections to providing access to information and promoting self-expression.

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