Adolescence is a phase in which both physical and psychological changes occur. While young people try to adapt to the physical changes they experience, they also begin the adventure of searching for identity. Adolescence, a transition between childhood and adulthood, can be turbulent for young people. During this period, social relations develop and change their quality. Young people begin to interact with their environment according to their own preferences and take initiatives on their own. Who they are, what they want to be, what they like or dislike, and their ideological thoughts are shaped in this period. In addition to friendship, peers also help each other test their self-development. Young people are generally in conflict with adult authority. Parents should show respect and unconditional love to their teenage children. They should allow them to act independently. This is essential for young people to gain experiences that will help them strengthen their self-confidence.
During adolescence, young people compare themselves a lot, especially with their peers. We often witness these comparisons, which progress to bullying, especially in the school environment. Nowadays, with the increasing number of social media platforms, young people's desire for constant interaction draws attention. With the increase in interactions, such comparisons are completely permeating the lives of young people. Studies have shown many effects of social media on adolescence. It has been determined that frequent social media use leads to inadequate or poor body image, low self-confidence and, accordingly, a tendency to depressive moods. Of course, the effects of social media, where everyone shares their "best self", on young people cannot be denied. In addition, it has been observed that there is a significant decrease in the sleep quality of young people, especially those who frequently spend time on social media at night. Studies conducted in Turkey have revealed that social media increases the loneliness levels of young people while negatively affecting their life satisfaction. Again, in a study conducted in Turkey, young people's course grades decreased as their social media usage time increased. It has been observed that This is one of the situations that parents often complain about and want to get professional support.
If parents strictly intervene in the time their teenage children spend on social media, this may push the teenager, who is already in conflict with adults, towards an even more rebellious attitude. During this period, it is very critical for parents to give guidance in a soft and respectful manner, to communicate with their adolescent children without forgetting that they are in the transition to adulthood, and to choose their words and construct their sentences accordingly.
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