This National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health will serve as a centralized, trusted source for evidence-based education and technical assistance to support the mental health of children and adolescents as they navigate social media.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence (CoE) on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is dedicated to creating a healthy digital ecosystem for children and adolescents.
Social media use starts during childhood and can play a significant role in the relationships and experiences that impact children and teens’ growth, development and mental health.
The Center’s work is guided by its co-Medical Directors, Megan Moreno, MD, MPH, MSEd, FAAP and Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, who are pediatricians and experts in the field of youth development and media. Internally, Center Director Nicole Owings-Fonner leads a strong team of program, communications and mental health professionals.
Upcoming Events
Navigating Social Media with Tweens and Teens
The AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is recruiting parents and caregivers to join the Navigating Social Media with Tweens and Teens ECHO. This no-cost, 4-session virtual learning collaborative will address tough topics like how to help tweens & teens manage their devices, what is happening developmentally at this stage, when does digital media become a problem, and what parents and caregivers need to know. This program meets weekly for 1 hour on Tuesdays at 2 pm Central / 3 pm Eastern on October 29, November 5, November 12, and November 19. Register Now!
Center of Excellence on Social Media & Youth Mental Health
|November 1, 2024
Office Hours: Let's Talk About Social Media!
Join the Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health for our first parent office hours session on November 7th at 12 pm ET! Office hours are a time for parents and caregivers to come together with experts to learn from each other and receive support to help children and teens build healthy digital media habits. During these sessions, parents can ask Center experts questions, express concerns, and share experiences. Register Now!
Center of Excellence on Social Media & Youth Mental Health
|November 1, 2024
Navigating Social Media and Youth Mental Health in Rural Communities
Are rural youth using social media differently? Join the Center of Excellence on Social Media & Youth Mental Health and the AAP National Rural Adolescent and Child Health ECHO Training Center on November 19, 2024 at 1 pm ET for a webinar to explore the latest research, discuss the distinct challenges faced by rural youth, and learn about new resources designed for clinicians, parents, and youth. Register Now!
Center of Excellence on Social Media & Youth Mental Health
|November 1, 2024
Glossary of Digital Media Platforms
The Glossary of Digital Media Platforms provides detailed information about social media, video sharing and gaming apps commonly used by children and teenagers. Glossary topics include default privacy settings, screen time management, feed customization options, messaging and friend controls, as well as parental controls.
New Resources to Help Children Develop Healthy Media Habits
Check out these two new resources designed to help parents have conversations with teens and tweens about technology and digital media, and strategies to help children aged 10 and younger develop healthy relationships with media.
Conversation Starters for Teens Strategies for Children 10 and Younger
The 5 Cs of Media Use
Pediatricians and providers often need quick, simple ways to discuss digital media with families. To help, we developed The 5 Cs of Media Use. The 5 Cs are designed to meet kids, teens and parents where they are, build insight and communication skills, and motivate for healthy behavior change.
School Phone Policies: Resource Guide for Pediatricians
Many states, school districts, and individual schools will be implementing new phone policies in the coming year, and pediatric clinicians may be asked to contribute to discussions. Here, the AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health offers a few tips based on our review of the research and what we have heard from teachers and students.
Get Your Questions Answered: Our Q&A Portal on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Whether you're a parent, teen, educator, clinician, policy maker, or otherwise working with youth, our expert staff and physicians are here to answer your questions. Click on a Q&A Portal audience page below to view our library of submitted questions, related educational resources and tools to help build healthy digital habits.
For Clinicians For Educators For Parents For Teens
Have a question you'd like to ask our expert team? Use the link below to submit your question!
Youth Advisory Panel
Learn about the CoE Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) and read advice they have for policymakers and members of the tech industry.
About the YAP
Learn about our Youth Advisory Panel and how their efforts inform the work of the CoE.
YAP Advice for Policymakers
Read what the YAP has to say about creating programs, policies, and regulation.
Tools and Resources
Use these resources to help your family develop healthy digital habits.
Online Health and Safety Resources
Explore these resources, provided in collaboration with the Best Practices Workgroup of the Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force, to promote the online health and safety of children and adolescents.
Family Tip Sheet - Building Healthy Digital Habits
When it comes to helping your children build healthy digital habits, you may not know where to start. Here are some research-based tips from pediatricians that can make a big difference for your family. Also available in Spanish.
AAP Family Media Plan
Media is everywhere, and managing it all can be tough. Use the AAP Family Media Plan to help you and your children set media priorities that matter most to your family. Create your family media plan here.
Multimedia Resources
AAP Webinars
The AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health has hosted webinars on topics related to social media's impact on youth mental health. View the webinars here.
AAP Podcasts
Listen as Dr. Megan Moreno and Dr. Jenny Radesky, co-Medical Directors of the SAMHSA-funded AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health talk about the work of the Center and issues related to social media and youth mental health.
Social Media Tips for Teens
Is social media good or bad for your mental health? It can be both! Create a healthy balance of time online by trying these 4 things.
Media Use Tips to Improve Sleep
This video, created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, provides tips for setting a nighttime routine to ensure a good night's sleep.
Social Media: Enjoy the Upsides and Avoid the Downsides
How you use social media can make a huge difference in whether it has a negative impact on your mental health. Pediatrician Megan Moreno has tips on ways to manage your social media use and reduce the chances it will lead to anxiety, depression, body image problems, eating disorders or other mental health issues.
Stay Up-To-Date on New Resources
The Center of Excellence team is continuously working on developing new resources. Sign up to be added to our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on available resources, events and relevant updates regarding social media and youth mental health.
Additional Information
Contact the Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Looking for more information about the Center of Excellence? Please contact us.
Grant Statement
Funding for the Center of Excellence was made possible by Grant No. SM087180 from SAMHSA of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the US Government.
Last Updated
11/01/2024
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics