I got my first phone when I was in fifth grade. When I got to middle school I had full internet access and very limited parental controls. Now, as a senior I can understand the consequences it had on my developmental years.

Social media in relation to teenagers, especially teenage girls, has always been a point of contention in debates. Parents of teenagers are worried about online safety, while their children are fighting back trying to maintain their digital presence. This is especially true in regard to teenage girls. According to the Pew Research Center 66% of girls 13-17 are on TikTok compared to 59% of teenage boys. 

A report done in the U.K. in 2025 showed that 36% of all teenage girls on social media have reported negative feelings as a result of social media. A statistic that only increased with factors such as race, sexuality, neurodivergency, and disabilities. 

While these social media companies do little to nothing to help combat issues of cyber bullying and harassment there are things that can be done to help mitigate damages. However, it doesn’t start with the teenagers, it starts with the parents.

A French study showed that by the age of 11, 83% of children had phones. A lot of the problems with phones and social media could be solved if children didn’t get phones until they were in high school. Elementary and middle schoolers are just too young to understand the consequences and risks of an online presence. 

Social media also will expose them to things that aren’t appropriate for their age. An increase in parental controls for teenagers when they get phones will also decrease the risk of teens posting their personal information, talking with complete strangers, or seeing content that is wildly inappropriate for their age.

There are also things that the teenagers themselves can do to be safe. The main way is to have a private account, and to keep it private. Letting everyone you’ve ever met have access to your account defeats the purpose of having a private account to begin with. Keep it limited to only your actual close family and friends. This is especially important for teenage girls who are the usual victims of harassment.

By taking these actions, and having open conversations between parents and their children, we can help prevent the harm that social media causes.