Teen Peer Pressure in the Age of Social Media

For many teens, social media is a primary source of social connections and staying in the know.

However, things like heavily edited images on Instagram and TikTok often glamorize unhealthy habits that include exposure to drugs and alcohol. Teens see, or hear about, influencers, celebrities, and even their peers casually posting about drinking at parties, using substances, or participating in dangerous trends. This can create feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out) and more.

What Peer Pressuring Happens on Social Media?

Peer pressure has always existed, but social media has amplified it. In addition to seeing and hearing about people using drugs and alcohol, teens can experience direct pressures online. There could be group chats, comments, or DMs that may encourage teens to try alcohol and drugs. The anonymity and indirectness of social media often set the stage for peers to push boundaries or bully others into trying things they normally wouldn’t do in person.

While there is more negative peer pressure on social media, the good news is that positive peer pressure also exists! For instance, choosing to be alcohol-free and sharing about it is becoming a trend among celebrities. More and more people are becoming more health cautious and aware of all the dangers of alcohol, which is helping create positive influences for teens to reduce alcohol use. Teens are also posting on Reddit forums and TikTok, sharing their first-hand, negative experiences with drugs—like these teens who shared about vaping.

What Can Parents, Guardians, and Educators Do?

You can play a huge role in helping teens navigate the wide world of social media and internet pressures. Here are a few ways:

1. Encourage following positive role models. Preventing social media use entirely might not always be an option, so encouraging teens to follow influencers and peers who are promoting drug and alcohol-free lifestyles can help them build confidence in resisting peer pressure and making responsible decisions. Research shows that peers significantly influence teenagers, particularly when making decisions or judging risks.
2. You have the power of positive influence, too. Teens often mimic adult behavior, so setting good examples is important. Show them how to use social media responsibly with your online presence.
3. Set healthy and balanced social media habits. Here arefour ways to ensure your teen or teens (and even you!) stay healthy and balanced with social media, especially if you are feeling any FOMO by seeing the online presence of others. Keep in mind that if you set any of these boundaries with teenagers, this means that as a role model, you need to try to follow the same rules. For instance, asking your teenager to limit screen time will be more effective if you also limit screen time. Sometimes, it helps to admit to your teenagers that you also find it difficult to put down your devices.
4. Teach refusal skills. Teens need to be equipped with the voice to say no when they feel pressured in person or online. For one, Drug Free Clubs of America provides students with practical tools and techniques to navigate peer pressure and choose a healthy lifestyle. We even offer an “out” for teenagers if offered drugs or alcohol. They can say, “I can’t, I might get tested.” Parents and guardians, you can also tell teens they can “blame” you or make you the bad guy when refusing drugs or substances with friends. Here are some other ways teens can continue to make healthy choices.
5. Keep the lines of communication open. Make it clear that you’re willing to talk about what they’re experiencing or learning online. This will encourage teenagers to talk to you if they run into a problem instead of going to their peers or looking for solutions online.

The pressures of social media are strong, but there are ways to help keep social media positive, so teens can make healthier, more informed choices now and for their future.

Drug Free Clubs of America is on a mission to reduce the impacts of drug use on youth. Across the nation, drug and alcohol use is on the rise among teens. We provide students with practical tools and techniques to navigate peer pressure and choose a healthy lifestyle. Partnering with schools and communities, we offer preventative programming to meet students where they are. Through randomized drug testing, educational resources, a positive outlet, and a supportive community, we are changing school cultures and reducing alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and other detrimental activities among our members and the entire school body. Drug Free Clubs of America has over as over 7,000 active student and faculty/staff members and Clubs in over 50 schools in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and California.