Before discussing the impact, Dr. Greenhaw explains that social media consists of internet-based platforms and applications that enable users to create personal profiles, post content, and interact with user-generated content, as well as to form and maintain online social networks and communities.

 Dr. Greenhaw emphasizes the importance of parental involvement.

“The platforms most used by children and adolescents in the United States are TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat, with Twitch, Discord, Pinterest, Reddit, and WhatsApp also playing significant roles in specific subgroups,” said Dr. Greenhaw.

 According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children ages 8 to 18 in the United States spent an average of 7.5 hours a day using screens in 2025.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Roblox

Two areas not always categorized as social media include AI chatbots and Roblox.

Roblox: While primarily a video game, it features elements of social media, such as personal profiles, avatars and the ability to chat with strangers during gameplay.

The platform is incredibly popular and includes many red flags for potential harm, including its engagement-prolonging design, behavioral reinforcers and major concerns for privacy.

“It carries many of the same risks as social media,” said Dr. Greenhaw.

Artificial Intelligence: Web-based tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are creating "parasocial" interactions, where children and teenagers may begin to view AI chatbots as friends or confidantes.

“Given the difficulty of traditional measures to monitor children’s use of this technology, open communication is key for detecting problematic or potentially harmful use,” said Dr. Greenhaw.

Generally, parents want to be informed about their children’s internet use. Creating an open space for frequent communication increases awareness of how children are spending their time online. If a parent is not first aware, they cannot intervene.

"Social media use may lead to worsening mental health outcomes if it includes exposure to cyberbullying, harmful content, algorithmic feeds or engagement-prolonging design," said Dr. Greenhaw.

 For Younger Children

• Emotional Regulation: Children can develop a stunted ability to manage their emotions if they rely too heavily on digital platforms for stimulation or distraction.

 For Adolescents

• Mental Health: Teens with higher baseline depressive symptoms may increase social media use over time, which can lead to negative social comparisons.
• Body Image: Appearance-focused platforms like Instagram and TikTok have a significant impact on how adolescents view their bodies.

 Healthy Digital Habits

• Create a Family Media Plan: Establish screen-free times for the entire family and set clear boundaries.
• Select High-Quality Content: Prioritize content that models social-emotional skills or tailored learning goals, such as math or reading.
• Set Intentional Limits: Be deliberate about when your child receives their first personal device.
• Protect Sleep: Ensure devices are put away well before bedtime to prevent interference with rest.

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• Changes in routine
• Traveling
• Missing family members and loved one
• Pressures to create meaningful experiences
• Family dynamics
• Holiday shopping and gift giving

So what can parents do? How can we help our children process pressures to protect their mental health and emotional well-being?

Communicate Expectations
Planning ahead and explaining arrangements can help prepare kids for traveling, adjusting routines, meeting new people and more.

“Kids love to know what to expect,” Ashley Pagenkopf, MS, CCLS, child life specialist in Cook Children’s Emergency Department, said. “Establishing realistic expectations is the most practical tip I would offer to families. Kids thrive with boundaries and expectations.”

When visiting family and friends or even hosting a holiday reunion at home, communicating with kids about who they may meet is important.

“A huge help for kids is to have video chats with family members and friends they will see in advance,” Lisa Elliott, Ph.D., psychologist and manager of Cook Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic in Denton, suggests. “For littles, even reading books to them over video chat is a great way to engage them.”

Let your children know that feeling anxious around unfamiliar people is normal. Staying together as a family can help kids feel safe, and it’s important to remind them they can speak up if they feel uncomfortable or need a break from social gatherings.

Practice Self-Care
Managing family anxiety often begins with parents addressing their own stress.

“Kids are very good at reading adult emotions even if they are not verbally expressed, so if you are stressed out, it’s likely your child is anxious as well,” Cook Children’s psychiatrist Akemi Watkins, M.D., said. “It’s like the safety message on airplanes where you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before your child.”

Simple self-care practices can significantly enhance parents’ well-being. Prioritizing sleep, nutritious meals and regular exercise can make a big difference. For more information about self-care for parents, Cook Children’s has a guide of resources listed here.

Focus on Connection
One of the best ways to reduce holiday stress is to focus on connection. Finding ways to bring family and friends together can be fun and meaningful.

“I’ve had multiple kids share their favorite family traditions,” Dr. Elliot said. “Experiences like taking baked goods, lotions or other treats to a nursing home, helping in a soup kitchen serving holiday meals and even adopting a family and going shopping together for them.”

The holiday season presents an opportunity to teach children about generosity – a concept that studies show actually improves mental health. Doing things for others makes you feel good – emotionally and physically.

It also promotes empathy and resilience, which are important building blocks to emotional and mental strength and coping skills that help children deal with challenges.

Read examples of ways families can serve others together here.