Are we all addicted to social media?

Hello everyone! Here’s a little shoutout to the parents of teens and tweens who have tried to give thoughtful, wise advice to their kids…and been promptly ignored. Just remember, our kids are retaining more than they let on. And they see you doing your best! Keep it up 💪

The Latest on Teens x Social Media

Here’s some food for thought: More than half of teenagers in the U.S. spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media each day, according to Gallup data. Usage peeks for boys and girls at 17, but girls tend to spend even more time glued to their screens up to that point.

It’s hard not to think about social media addiction when kids are spending a third of their waking hours on social media, right? We know that social media companies design their platforms to keep us scrolling for longer. So what are companies, lawmakers, and people like us doing to stop social media addiction in its tracks and keep kids safe?

Here’s the rundown on the latest:

1. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission proposed changes that require platforms to obtain consent from parents (hi) before collecting data from kids under 13, prohibit websites from sending push notifications encouraging children to stay online longer, and enforce stronger data security requirements.

2. A group of senators introduced the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act in the spring. The proposed law would prevent platforms from using those creepy-good algorithms to deliver content to users under 18. The bill has yet to pass the Senate…but we’re keeping an eye on it.

How to Make Extracurriculars Actually Fun

One of the biggest questions people ask us in our parenting community, The Common Parent? How do I get my kids to engage in extracurriculars? How many is too many extracurriculars? How on Earth do we afford all these clubs and activities?

We’ve got some resources for you:

• Here’s a really great collection of all the benefits and drawbacks of getting your kids in after-school activities and tips for navigating any tough bits. Did you know: Kids involved in activities are more likely to have better friendships and fewer mental health problems.

• For Common Parent members, check out this great conversation about getting an unmotivated child more interested in extracurricular activities. Not a Common Parent member? Sign up here!

• How do you know when to embrace the activities your kids want to participate in and when to steer them in the direction of an activity you'd like them to participate in? This podcast we made has some answers.

We Love to See a Parenting Moment Like This

It really does take a village. This mom shared her feelings about her eight-year-old daughter starting her period before mom was totally mentally prepared (if you can ever really be mentally prepared for that). The comments on her Reddit thread are so sweet and inspiring—take a scroll through for 1) your daily dose of parenting inspiration and 2) some truly wonderful advice on helping our kids navigate big changes.

Calling All Mean Girls Fans

If you know the movie Mean Girls, you know how significant it was for 1) the funniest one-liners ever and 2) its accurate portrayal of high school social dynamics.

In honor of the movie's 20-year anniversary—and the release of the reboot!—we’re re-upping our episode with Rosalind Wiseman, the author of the book that inspired the movie, who joined us to talk about the mean girl phenomenon and how to help your teen navigate those challenging friendships.

Trying to keep up with our kids’ interests and obsessions feels like a full-time job. So? The perfect recs to understand your teen when it feels like they’re really, truly speaking a different language.

• These are the teen trends to watch in 2024, from trolling LinkedIn to playing badminton.

• Why do young people love watching TV with closed captions on? An investigation.

• The Stanley Cup (the drinking one, not the hockey one) madness is at an all time high. Here’s your explainer on why, plus a real AF parenting moment this TikTok creator shared after her 9-year-old daughter was bullied for not having a “real” Stanley.

• You’ve heard how obsessed young tween girls are with skincare and makeup, but you should read about how they’re reportedly running wild in Sephoras before you drop your kids off at the mall. Yikes.