Teen Social Media Behavior

One of the biggest issues with Social Media is teen irregular behavior through the posts they share.  Many youth (whom I’ve worked with) have added me on social media.  Their behavior is completely different than their behavior in public.  Many of the posts or statuses by teens I have worked with seem as if they are a cry for help.  It is often frustrating to determine whether or not these kids are in desperate need of professional help or if they are just having a normal teenage mood swing. 

One particular teenager, always posts the problems in her family structure, wanting to do poor in school, wanting to die, insecure about her weight, being cyber bullied or wanting a new family.  Seeing that I was only the teens coach two years ago, it was frustrating to determine whether or not it was my place to take action for someone else child, the fear of a child being removed from their family because of my actions frightened me greatly because many of the youth I have worked with confide in me.  

It impacted me significantly to come in contact with an old team mate and see one them act in such irregular behaviors on a social media website, especially when they youth have such a bright, positive and energetic spirits.  Had the teen’s personality and behavior changed significantly on social media to get attention or was the teen really telling so much information on the media that the suicidal thoughts were real?  This left me mind boggled because the teen hadn’t reached out to me for guidance and it was frustrating not knowing what was going to happen next.

I took it upon myself to participate in a suicide prevention training to learn the symptoms of suicidal thoughts and how to act professional upon similar situations because withholding my concern and letting the behavior of the young teenager continue could have shown the teen that no one was listening.  Thanks to the training, when the teen expresses certain negative emotions where suicide is mentioned in their social media behavior, I am able to reach out to the youth in a way that they are comfortable in confiding me without them feeling as if I am against them.  My guidance and words of wisdom helps the youth talk through and accept reality.

When it comes to teens and their social media behavior, it is important to pay attention to the frequency of the statuses that are shared with the world because some youth really do take their actions to a more dangerous level whereas they take their own life.  Whether you are a parent, coach, teacher, family member or friend…never neglect a child who is having suicidal behavior even if it isn’t your own.