APA Issues New Guidelines to Address Teen Video-Viewing Habits

The American Psychological Association highlights the risks of harmful content and calls for shared responsibility among parents, educators, policymakers, and tech companies.

• The APA's new guidelines emphasize the psychological and emotional risks teens face from excessive video viewing and harmful content, including cyberbullying, body shaming, and risky behaviors.
• Parents are encouraged to co-view videos with their teens, engage in open discussions about content, and set boundaries to mitigate negative impacts on sleep, mental health, and daily responsibilities.
• The report calls on educators to teach digital literacy, helping teens critically evaluate content and understand the manipulative features of video platforms like autoplay and targeted recommendations.
• Tech companies are urged to modify algorithms, limit harmful content, and take greater responsibility for platform features that contribute to excessive screen time and emotional harm.
• Policymakers are encouraged to implement stricter regulations, such as teen-specific accounts and content safeguards, similar to protections already in place in countries like the U.K.

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