The social media fascination is especially evident for children. Kids can chat with friends from the comfort of their beds, express opinions on the blog, research a school project, or read posts from their latest celebrity obsession.

According to the 2019 Common Sense Media Census, children between the ages of eight and twelve spend five hours a day in front of screens, while teens spend seven and a half hours online a day. Our children's online time can have a significant impact on mental health. Spending too much time on Facebook can lead to bullying, sadness, and anxiety. Spending more than four hours online every day increases a teenager's chances of being hyperactive and careless, as well as lowering their sense of self-worth.

Social media has the potential to affect mental health:

The way young people use social networks is linked to their mental health. Strong social support networks, tools, and online communities help children who use social networking sites in healthy ways to develop their connection and sense of personality. On the other hand, children who engage in harmful online behavior may experience worse health consequences such as anxiety, depression, or hyperactivity.

Social media benefits:

There are many benefits to using social media. This will help your children become more connected with others and form friendships. According to a study published in Pediatrics, teens and teens can benefit from 'improving communication, social interactions, and technical skills' by accessing social media regularly.

Other benefits of using social media:

• Creating or joining a movement for the topic they care about.
• Use different media to express your creativity.
• Increase the number of people in your friends' network who share similar interests or opposing views.
• Identify volunteer or community engagement opportunities.
• Using social media to connect with peers to do school work.

Negative effects of social media:

While it can be wonderful to feel connected, social media can sometimes heighten feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and sadness. Children who use social media are more likely to have mental health problems and are more vulnerable to peer pressure. Some of the significant disadvantages of using social media are as follows:

Cyberbullying puts children and teenagers at risk for spending too much time online. This widespread form of bullying never ends and teens can receive obscene or hurtful comments anytime they are online. Anxiety, sadness, behavioral difficulties, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts can be brought about by cyberbullying.

Phone addiction is a serious problem. Nearly half of students in the Digital Wellbeing 2020 study said they were addicted to their smartphones. More than half of those who voted believe their lives are in danger.

Anxiety and sadness increase. Children are more concerned about how much time they spend in front of the screens. Teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to realize their plight, which increases the risk of sadness, anxiety, and FOMO.

Sleep disturbances. When people use their phones in bed, sleep is interrupted, making it more difficult to relax, try to fall asleep, and fall asleep. Children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to develop mental health problems such as sadness, impulsive behavior, anxiety, and poor cognitive test results.

Improve social media usage:

Helping your child reduce social media use can be beneficial to their mental health. To reduce social media usage in your home, follow these guidelines:

• Download social media management software to track how much time your kids spend on social media.
• Set limits to prevent apps from being used after a certain time in the evening or during homework.
• Spend time for your family without any electronic devices. Everyone turns off their gadgets and focuses on each other during lunch or in the evening.
• Remove electronic devices from the bedroom at night so your children can get enough rest.
• Plan activities such as collaborating with a local group or joining a sports team to keep young people off their screens and interact with others.

Signs that social media can have an impact on your child's mental health:

It’s hard to tell if your kids ’use of social media is harming their mental health. Here are some red flags to watch:

• They spend more time on the internet with their friends. Spending too much time online can make children feel detached from reality and reduce the time they spend engaging in personal activities. They are less active and have a more difficult time acquiring social skills that help them feel better about themselves.
• Lack of desire does not perpetuate the previous passion. It is common to worry that children have lost a text message or are not getting enough likes for their social media posts. Your child may be less interested in his past hobbies and interests.
• Sleep deprivation. Do you deal with children who are sleepy, lethargic, or irritable? The alarm on the device in your child's room will keep them awake at night. Children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to have mental health problems.
• Those who are being harassed. Cyberbullying is an endless cycle. It can happen at any time of the day or night, lowering one's self-esteem, courage, and happiness. Keep an eye out for signs that your child is being abused.

Features that need to be addressed immediately:

Harmful social media habits in children may require expert intervention. If your children appear sad, lonely, or are heavily influenced by their social media connections

Keep an eye out for the following signs, which necessitate emergency medical attention:

• Giving away personal belongings.
• Self-harming or engaging in self-destructive activity is a form of self-harm.
• Discussing feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or powerlessness.
• Isolation from friends and family on a social level.
• Angry outbursts regularly.
• Consumption of less or more food than normal.
• Make an appointment with your child's pediatrician or primary care doctor to build a treatment plan if you're concerned about their mental health.