The first question everyone asks the first day of school is usually: What did you do this summer? But chances are you already know how your friends spent their time off.
Today, most teens stay connected year-round with apps. And there are a lot of options! Maybe you uploaded videos to Instagram, shared Stories on Snapchat, played online video games together, or texted via WhatsApp to tell friends about your adventures.
None of these apps were an option only 15 years ago. Facebook didn’t exist until 2004, and the first iPhone wasn’t released until 2008. Kids could only talk or text on their phones to stay in touch. Now, you can tweet to all your friends with just a few taps.
But staying safe on social media is important too. “Remember, it’s against the law to even have a social media account if you aren’t at least 13,” says psychologist Jean Twenge.
Almost one-fifth of teens say someone has made them feel unsafe or uncomfortable online. More than one-third of teens have been cyberbullied. Make sure your privacy settings are enabled so only trusted friends and family can see your personal information. If you see any cyberbullying, report the user and tell a parent or trusted adult.
It’s also important to enjoy your free time offline. Twenge’s research has linked increased time on smartphones to increased unhappiness in teens.
“If you are hanging out electronically, you aren’t hanging out in person,” says Twenge. “When you are with your peers face-to-face, put the phone away!”