Study: Strong parent-child ties may offset negative effects of social media

A strong parenting relationship can mitigate the mental health risks of heavy social media use for teenagers, a new survey suggests. — MARIJAN MURAT/dpa

THE NEGATIVE effects of heavy social media use on teenagers are in part offset by close parent-child ties, according to a survey conducted by US pollster Gallup.

Teens that reported a “strong, loving relationship with their parents” do not appear to have the same level of reported mental health problems as teenagers whose bonds with parents have frayed, according to the survey, which overall showed adolescents glued to social media apps reporting increased anger and sadness as a result.