One of the most discussed negative impacts of social media is its effect on mental health. Constant exposure to curated images, idealized lifestyles, and relentless comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. Studies have shown that prolonged use of social media platforms correlates with increased rates of anxiety and other mental health disorders, especially among young adults and adolescents.

Keeping secrets is part of growing up. Deciding what you’ll tell people about yourself — and others — is one way to develop an understanding of privacy and trust.

Thanks to Facebook and other forms of social media, nothing is secret. Therefore, many teens are switching to anonymous apps like Whisper, Secret, Yik Yak, Street Chat and Fess App to let off steam without worrying about repercussions. Teens confess crushes and mistakes, make edgy jokes, laugh over embarrassing moments, and divulge sensitive information. Some open up about abusive relationships, conflicts with friends and family, health concerns and even self-destructive behaviors.

Anonymous apps enable young people to explore who they are and to discover that their problems are not unique. Given the potential for serious problems, it’s easy for parents to overreact. Armed with a basic understanding of anonymous social media, you’ll be in a better position to talk to teens about anonymous social media. Here are questions worth asking:

1. What apps are you using?
Just as important, find out what apps your child’s friends are using. Many kids feel they need to have a particular app simply to keep track of what’s being said by others.

2. How are the apps being used?
Some teens use anonymous apps wisely — posting funny messages or supporting people that are having a tough time. Others are seduced by the popularity contest. In order to get more "likes," they push the envelope with posts that are increasingly outrageous, sexual or cruel. Teens need to hear that you expect them to live up to their values in private as well as public settings.

3. What’s the appeal?
Help your child think through the pros and cons of anonymity. How does it influence what people post? Be sure your child understands that privacy policies often change and anonymity is never guaranteed. Remind your child that police can and do track down people who break the law by making threats or posting sexual photos of minors.

4. What’s the role of GPS?
Many anonymous apps depend on smartphone location services. Yik Yak, for example, was designed by college students so people on the same campus could share random messages. In high schools, the program has been used for bullying, bashing teachers and reporting bomb threats. Yik Yak erected "geofences" designed to make the app off-limits for many public schools but, of course, that doesn’t stop students from accessing it in other settings. Remember you can always disable the smartphone’s GPS feature.

5. Which sites should be off-limits?
Make it clear that you don’t want your child to use "random chat apps" such as Omegala, Chat Random and Tiny Chat, which make it all too easy for teens to connect with strangers. Also, steer your child away from sites that have developed a reputation for bullying. Ask.fm, for example, is notorious for cruel questions such as "Why are you fat?" or even "Why don’t you kill yourself?"

In the digital age, information spreads rapidly through social media, often without verification of accuracy. This phenomenon has contributed to the proliferation of misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories. The unchecked spread of false information can have serious consequences, influencing public opinion, shaping political discourse, and undermining trust in credible sources of information. While social media offers unprecedented connectivity and convenience, its negative effects on mental health, relationships, productivity, and information integrity cannot be overlooked. By fostering a balanced approach to social media usage and promoting digital well-being, we can harness its benefits while mitigating its detrimental impacts on individuals and society.