Psychologist's Guide to Adolescents and Social Media

The internet has become a principal venue for social interaction. Young people are growing up in a world surrounded by technology that could have only been imagined a generation ago. Social media have crafted a landscape that has made connection with others easy. Yet this rise has become a concern. So, what is happening here? Why is it so compelling to use social media? Why is it difficult to quit social media? What impact can social media have on teenagers, their education, and their well-being? Should we be worried? What can be done to help? Psychologist's Guide to Adolescents and Social Media aims to deliver a deeper understanding regarding the psychology of social media, both positive and negative. This guide is divided into four parts. The reader will be guided through the purposes and merits of social media, the unintended consequences of using social media, author conducted research exploring the experiences of adolescent-aged school children, and what can be done to help those struggling with the overuse of social media, including assessment resources.

Dr Pierre Court is an Educational and Child Psychologist currently living and working in Jersey. He has a Doctorate in Educational, Child and Community Psychology and qualifications in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy. Working in education and psychology for over 10 years, Dr Court is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, registered with the Health Care Professions Council as a practitioner psychologist and a member of the Association of Educational Psychologists. In professional practice, Dr Court provides strategic support to a range of schools, alternative education settings and families -including psychological assessment, stress management for school staff, collaborative problem solving for the most challenging of cases and clinical supervision for practicing school-based counsellors, supporting professional development, refining reflective practice and bridging the gap between therapeutic support, mental health and educational contexts. Born in Bristol (United Kingdom), Pierre moved to Jersey in 2019. He is married with one daughter.

Introduction Part 1 The positives and purposes of using social media 1. Identity and construction of the self 2. Social connectedness 3. Emotional regulation Part 2 The unintended consequences of using social media 4. Cyberbullying 5. Unfulfilled expectations 6. Internet addiction 7. The educational impact of social media use Part 3 Researching the impact of social media on UK secondary school students 8. Delving in deeper 9. "Tell me more about that” 10. Connection to others: social connection, relationship maintenance, the monitoring of others 11. Identity and construction of the self: Change over time; A part of you; The role of parent 12. Cyberbullying: Group judgement & reaction; A venue and channel for negativity; The use of 'blocking' as protection 13. From online to in-school: Interference of work; Threats, intimidation or violence 14. A cup of tea and a notebook Part 4 What can be done to help those who need support with their social media use? 15. "You can lead a horse to water...” 16. "But you can't make it drink... or can you?” 17. Getting a measure of the situation 18. Drawing everything to a close  Epilogue Glossary of Terms Appendix