Teenage Self- Esteem vs. Social Media What to Know and How to Spend Time Elsewhere According to Mayo Clinic, nearly 97% of kids aged 13–17 years old use social media, whether it’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or another platform. Although these platforms come with major benefits — such as staying in touch with distant family and friends — it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your teen’s social media usage. Research shows that using social media more than three hours a day can increase risk of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. Here’s why — or at least, a few expert theories. The Proven Risk Factors Social media affects everyone a little differently. For teens, thankfully, there are some studies about these differences. Beyond simply the number of hours spent on social media, there are other ways that researchers have noticed the negative impact of social media on teens. A 2016 study of more than 450 teens found that greater social media use, nighttime social media use, and emotional investment in social media (such as feeling upset when prevented from logging on) were linked to worse sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and depression. It even matters how your teen is using social media. Is your teen interacting or only looking? A 2015 study found that social comparison and feedback seeking by teens using social media were linked to depressive symptoms. Additionally, a 2013 study showed that older adolescents who used social media passively, such as simply looking at pictures, reported declines in life satisfaction. In contrast, participants who used social media to interact with others and post their own content didn’t experience these declines. The Alternatives Instead of staring at a screen, encourage your teens to spend time face-to-face with their classmates and friends; that’s especially important for teens who are vulnerable to social anxiety. Remind your teen that certain behaviors aren’t okay on social media: gossiping, spreading rumors, bullying, or damaging someone’s reputation (online or otherwise). Even if these activities can seem harmless at first, they are extremely damaging and hurtful to the people involved. Face-to-face contact is one of the most promising ways to deflect the negative aspects of social media. Don’t miss a chance to give your teen the one-on-one time that they may need.
Close to Home Leaving the Family Home During a Divorce When you’re getting divorced, you and your spouse probably haven’t been getting along for some time. Once the papers are filed, the atmosphere will likely become even more tense and uncomfortable. The next logical step seems to be for one of you to move out. But is that wise? Many people are concerned that if they move out of the family home, they’ll lose possession of it in divorce proceedings. That isn’t strictly true. You still have the right to your assets whether or not you’re currently using them. But moving out may make you less likely to keep the property. Generally speaking, courts tend to prefer to maintain the status quo. If you’ve already moved out of the house, a judge is probably less likely to force your ex to move out so you can move back in. If you rent, you won’t have to worry about which of you will remain a homeowner. But there are still other factors to consider. Perhaps the most important is time sharing. Moving out of your home will not bar you from winning custody of your children later, but it might make the matter more challenging. If you’ve been spending significantly less time with your children because you moved out, the court might consider that situation in their decision. There’s also the matter of money. Setting up a new residence will cost you cold hard cash, and the middle of a divorce is not the time to increase expenses or run down your savings. Also, remember that you probably keep everything you own in your home — including countless financial documents. While these are now simpler to access online, losing immediate access to the hard copies could cost you time and cause difficulty. Of course, disregard these considerations if you’re in immediate danger. If you or your children are being abused, the most important thing is your safety. Forget about your things — get out now. It might not be easy, but your attorney will help you put the pieces back together later. And nothing you own is more important than your life. Otherwise, moving out can wait; always consult your attorney before making any decisions. They will be happy to discuss your strategy, address concerns, and help you find solutions that won’t break the bank.
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