Summary

Parents are under constant pressure to monitor their children’s social media use amidst “crisis” narratives that focus solely on individual responsibility. By framing digital life as a shared social environment, rather than a private family matter, advocates can build public will for industry-wide accountability and mental health protections.

This playbook provides practical, research-based guidance for shifting the conversation about social media and adolescent mental health (for the purposes of this guide, adolescence refers to around age 10 to age 25). It draws on FrameWorks’ in-depth and ongoing framing research on how advocates, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers can move away from unproductive crisis narratives and instead use framing strategies that highlight opportunity, agency, and collective responsibility. It also offers specific guidance for speaking to parents in ways that avoid blame and shame and instead emphasize their expertise and partnership with practitioners.