SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Just days ago, a lawsuit was filed against TikTok by a coalition of more than a dozen attorneys general from around the country.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta was one of the attorneys general leading the effort, accusing the company of exploiting young users and deceiving the public about the dangers the platform poses to youth.
In part, it's an example of how living in the digital age comes with its challenges.
Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Andrew Mendonsa said social media use has been linked to anxiety and depression in youth, noting an uptick among 12 to 15 year olds. He said there have also been a lot of issues with body image and eating disorders.
Mendonsa said encouraging a healthier relationship with social media is about balance.
"We want to make sure that our youth are well rounded, and so, if they're in school all day and then they go home and spend three, four, five, six hours on social media, and then do it all over again the next day, there's not much of a balance there," he said.
He said people should include their kids in the conversation when developing rules for social media use.
"It's not about you can't have... that's going to be a very difficult rule to enforce," Mendonsa said. "Versus, 'Hey, we want you to have social media but we also want you to go outside and we also want you to be involved in all these other things. What do you think is fair?' What I think is fair is one hour on weekdays and two or three hours on weekends, and if that feels fair to the parent or caregiver or guardian, then that is a rule that I would say definitely use."
Mendonsa also recommends setting a good example for your kids with your own social media habits, like putting down phones during family time or meals.
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