Family Life

Talking With Teens About Media: Conversation Starters

Talking with tweens and teens about technology and digital media can be challenging. For busy families, it can feel hard to find the right moment, or to say the right things.

Here are some ideas from the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Use these questions and prompts to help frame conversations with your teen about technology, social media and video games. You can get their input, make decisions together, and have conversations rather than lectures.

Tap on conversation starters by topic to read more, or download them here. And check out these tips and activities for younger kids.

More information

Developed in partnership with the Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force, which is co-led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Funding for the Center of Excellence was made possible by Grant No. SM087180 from SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the U.S. Government.

Last Updated: 7/22/2024

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.