What Your Teen’s Reposts Says About Them

Bathing suit season is upon us! Or as like to call it, “dumb sh*t people say to moms but would never say to dads” season :) In conclusion, wear whatever you want to the pool, the beach and everywhere else, always!

As moms, we have to accept that tech and social media is a huge part of our kids’ lives. But here’s the thing: no one gave us a manual on how to parent in this chronically online era. We were learning the hard way, in real time, just trying to keep up. That’s why we created this guide. It’s what we wish we had when we started navigating this digital parenting world. Giving your kid a phone is a personal decision, and we're not here to tell you when to do it—but we are here to help you feel more confident and informed when that moment comes. Phones aren’t the enemy, it’s just that most of us were never taught how to parent in a digital world. So we created Screen Sense, the resource we needed as parents. And now it’s yours too!

The Power of The Reshare

Reposting a video is a form of expression. Especially for teens. Think of them as emotional breadcrumb trails. They are a way for teens to express what they’re thinking or feeling without explicitly saying it out loud. Sometimes it’s more lighthearted, a silly video they resonate with. But sometimes it’s a little more serious, a way of asking for help, a form of begging to be seen and heard. As parents, we have to understand that digital behavior is communication. 

Not all reposts are cries for help, of course. We don’t want to give the impression that posting about any kind of vulnerability means something is wrong. Depending on the situation, it can be cathartic for teens to repost something that makes them feel a little less alone. But it’s important to keep an eye out for excessive reposts that are melancholy in nature, otherwise known as sadfishing. While the term originated as a way to call out celebrities who use public sympathy to build their brand (yikes), when it comes to teens, it’s far more serious. Experts believe that sadfishing in teens is often a reflection of mental health issues. Oftentimes teens feel safest expressing themselves online as opposed to in real life. This is another reason why it’s important to know what your teen is posting (finstas and all). 

Virginia Law Will Set Screen Time Limit For Kids Under 16 

This one might be controversial. As in, some Virginia teens might not be too happy about it. Starting on January 1st, 2026, there will be a legally required screen time mandate on all kids under the age of 16 in Virginia (the stipulation being that kids can get permission from their parents to go beyond the state-wide limit). This law is an amendment to Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act which requires social media companies to verify a user’s age. 

What do we make of this? It’s too early to tell. For one thing, it won’t go into effect for another 7 months. And we have no way of knowing whether this will be something that can be regulated effectively. This certainly isn’t a fix-all for the issues our teens face when it comes to social media. But it feels like it’s worth a shot. There’s no reason kids under 16 need to be staring at their phones for more than one hour a day, that much we know. So while the government monitoring a kid’s phone usage might feel extreme, that’s because we’re living in extreme times. Middle school aged kids having unlimited access to basically everything at all hours of the day is a wild concept. 20 years ago that would have sounded like a bad sci-fi movie. Now it’s our reality! Let’s be clear–technology on its own isn’t the enemy. Overusing the technology to the point of dependency is. Sometimes unconventional (and ultimately harmless) methods are what produces the best results. Time will tell! 

Who To Follow: Positive Influencers For Teens

Social media isn’t all doom and gloom. There are some huge positives that can come from it, especially for teens! We’ve decided to highlight one account per week that we think teens could benefit from following! 

Sex Ed For Guys provides teenage boys with real, applicable advice on relationships and consent. This account also discusses sexual health in a lighthearted and comedic tone. This account does a great job of tackling uncomfortable topics in a palatable and helpful way.