“The Only Place I Feel Understood”: A Mixed Methods Survey of Adolescent and Caregiver Perspectives on Social Media and Parental Controls

PurposeGiven adolescents' extensive social media use and its mixed impacts, this study explores: (1) adolescent and young adult (AYA) social media habits, (2) familial factors associated with parental controls, and (3) social media use among AYA with disordered eating.MethodsAYA aged 11-20 visiting an urban academic medical center and fluent in English or Spanish were surveyed on social media use and mental health. Caregivers of minors provided consent and data on demographics and parental controls. The survey included multiple choice, yes/no, and free-text questions. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and qualitative coding.ResultsParticipants averaged 15.3 years; 46% spent 4+ hours on social media daily. Younger adolescents (11-14) were more likely to report high use (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and have parental controls (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Most AYA (76%) felt better after using social media. Over half of parents (54.4%) used controls. Qualitative themes included: social media's unrecognized benefits, its dual role in time use, and its value for health information.ConclusionAYA generally viewed social media positively, though many wished to reduce usage. Parental controls focused more on content than time. Social media supported some with eating disorders, though 30% encountered harmful content.