Utah doctor helps parents navigate social media challenges

SALT LAKE CITY — Social media is increasingly associated with mental health challenges among youth. How can parents help kids navigate them?

Dr. Richard Ferguson, the founder of Black Physicians Utah, said banning social media entirely isn’t the solution.

While many kids see their parents use social media every day, Dr. Ferguson thinks that 14 is the right age the right age to give a child a cell phone. 

Regardless of age, it is important to help them create a healthy balance and address issues such as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and screen time. 

According to Ferguson, parents should know when their kids get on a device and how much time they spend with screens.

“You might need to do a digital detox. Like ‘Hey, you get one hour [a] day… to check in on your friends. But otherwise, you’re present here with your family or people in your neighborhood or at church,'” he said.

Ferguson explained how developing brains are susceptible to overuse of social media in the digital age.

“We have to think about a certain chemical such as dopamine. And there’s a reason why just like social media, and the chemicals [they] release [are] reinforced to make us feel good at the pleasure center. It’s often the same area that can lead to addictive behavior,” said Ferguson. 

He’s hosting a back-to-school mental health summit this Saturday in Salt Lake City to help parents set screen time boundaries and navigate a healthy balance.

The summit is called, “Unplugging for wellness: Social media and student mental health.”

Eric Cabrera is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio. You can follow him on Instagram.

Related:

• Legal expert questions Utah’s social media restrictions
• Utah lawmaker talks about his work to shield kids from social media
• Granite School District lays down the law on cellphones in schools