AAP Resource Center – Social Media & Youth Mental Health

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence (CoE) on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is dedicated to creating a healthy digital ecosystem for children and adolescents. Social media use starts during childhood and can play a significant role in the relationships and experiences that impact children and teens’ growth, development and mental health. The Center’s work is guided by its co-Medical Directors, Megan Moreno, MD, MPH, MSEd, FAAP and Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, who are pediatricians and experts in the field of youth development and media. 

By listening to families, partnering with experts and communities and engaging with industry, the Center works to:

1. Improve the mental health of children and teens by reducing the risks and leveraging the benefits of social media.
2. Build the capacity of individuals who work with children and teens to mitigate harmful impacts of social media on youth mental health and promote healthy social media use.
3. Synthesize and promote the evidence base and best practices for healthy social media use via communication, guidance and other resources.

We have developed many practical resources for clinicians, educators and parents to help youth learn how to safely navigate digital media and the online world. 

Please stop by our Resource Center booth, to pick up copies of these resources and to learn more about how we are discussing social media use for teens and families.