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Balance your future

Thoughts and reflections from my experience and from relevant literature. I hope you find it useful.

Help — is our child being harmed by using social media?

kids on social media

Do you relate to a dialog like this?

ParentHey, can we have a quick chat about your mobile phone use?
Child Why? What's wrong with it?
ParentI'm worried that you're spending too much time on your phone and not enough time on other things.
ChildBut I've done my homework! I've finished it. I need to use my mobile to go and meet my friends. That's really important!
ParentSure…you need to communicate with your friends too, of course that's important! ...
ChildI also do it to relax! And everyone else does it too!
ParentI know a lot of people do it, but that doesn't mean it's the best thing for you. I want you to have more time for other activities, like sport, exercise or reading. I'd like us to make a rule about how much time you spend on your phone every day?
ChildThat's not fair! …I can decide how much time I spend on my mobile ...

In today's digital world, social media has become an integral part of many children's and young people's lives. It offers many benefits, but it can also lead to problems. If children suffer the consequences of cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty ideals or the pressure to be constantly online, this can put a strain not only on the child but also on the relationship between parents. In such cases, couples therapy can provide valuable support.

Parents often face the challenge of finding a balance between allowing the use of social media and protecting their children. Differing views on this can lead to tensions in the partnership, with one parent having a more liberal attitude and the other having concerns and wanting stricter rules. These different approaches can lead to disagreements, which in turn can have a negative impact on family life and negate the intended effect of being there together for the child.

I can help you

I can provide a safe space where parents can talk openly about their concerns and fears. There are several ways on how couple therapy can help in this situation, for instance:

Improve communication: Communication often suffers during times of stress. A therapist can create a safe space and help parents express their thoughts and feelings more clearly and listen to each other better.

Develop strategies together: In therapy, parents can work together to develop strategies for dealing more constructively with the challenges of social media. This can help to find a unified approach that benefits the child.

Emotional support is also crucial, as worrying about the child can be very stressful. Couple therapy can provide room to work through these emotions, recognise that the child's wellbeing is very important to both parents, and find support for each other.

The impact of social media use on children is an important issue that affects both the children themselves and their parents. Couple therapy can be a valuable resource for improving communication, developing joint strategies and strengthening the relationship for all. If you feel that the challenges posed by social media are putting a strain on your relationship, it may be helpful to seek professional help. Together, you can work through the challenges and create a healthy environment for the couple an your child.

It's never too late to seek support and make positive changes.