More than ever before, American teenagers live within an interconnected network of family members, friends, acquaintances, and online communities. The recent pandemic has changed the way we connect with others, both positively and negatively.
This video shares some interesting information about social media’s effect on mental health [2:33]:
Social Media Can Impact Mental Health During Quarantine
- How has your family’s social media use changed in the past month or two? (Answers will vary. Some families have become more intentional about reaching out in creative ways to the community, but others may feel isolated and lonely in a digital world.)
- What suggestions from the Mental Health Association seem wise? (Answers might include the TGK acronym: 1. Turn it off, 2. Go beyond the headline, and 3. Know your source.)
- Has another Christian’s online behavior ever made you question your own family’s rules or guidelines? Do all Christian families have the same specific rules of behavior? (We don’t always know the context behind a photograph or comment. What we post—and say—can have a ripple effect, especially for new Christians who might be confused by contradictions or hypocrisy.)
How we interact—whether it is through social media or in a face-to-face encounter—can have a big effect on others. But even our personal choices can impact others. Let’s find out how.
