This National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health will serve as a centralized, trusted source for evidence-based education and technical assistance to support the mental health of children and adolescents as they navigate social media.
Web pages whose development was supported by federal government grants are being reviewed to comply with applicable Executive Orders.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence (CoE) on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is dedicated to creating a healthy digital ecosystem for children and adolescents.
Social media use starts during childhood and can play a significant role in the relationships and experiences that impact children and teens’ growth, development and mental health.
The Center’s work is guided by its co-Medical Directors, Megan Moreno, MD, MPH, MSEd, FAAP and Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, who are pediatricians and experts in the field of youth development and media. Internally, Center Director Nicole Owings-Fonner leads a strong team of program, communications and mental health professionals.
Latest Resources
Your go-to hub for trusted resources that support healthy growth, learning, and digital wellness.
Early Childhood Development and Screen Time Toolkit
Healthy media habits start early. To help, the AAP Center of Excellence developed this toolkit for use by early childhood educators, childcare providers, early interventionists, home visitors, pediatricians, or other professionals who support families with young children. Featuring tip sheets, social media messages, infographics, posters, and more. Use these resources to build your knowledge about screens and early childhood and engage effectively with families.
Resources to Help Children Develop Healthy Media Habits
Check out these two resources designed to help parents have conversations with teens and tweens about technology and digital media, and strategies to help children aged 10 and younger develop healthy relationships with media.
Conversation Starters for Teens Strategies for Children 10 and Younger
Get Your Questions Answered: Our Q&A Portal on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Whether you're a parent, teen, educator, clinician, policy maker, or otherwise working with youth, our expert staff and physicians are here to answer your questions. Click on a Q&A Portal audience page below to view our library of submitted questions, related educational resources and tools to help build healthy digital habits.
For Clinicians For Educators For Parents For Teens
Have a question you'd like to ask our expert team? Use the link below to submit your question!
Youth Advisory Panel
Learn about the CoE Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) and read their advice for tech leaders and policymakers, plus answers to teens’ top questions about social media and mental health.
Social Media & Youth Mental Health: What Teens Ask, What Research Says
Explore evidence-based answers to common questions from middle and high school students about social media and youth mental health.
2025 Virtual Youth Forum Highlights
Discover how the American Academy of Pediatrics' March 2025 Virtual Youth Forum united over 80 teens and young adults (ages 14–24) to discuss the impact of social media on youth mental health.
About the YAP
Learn about our Youth Advisory Panel and how their efforts inform the work of the CoE.
YAP Advice for Policymakers
Read what the YAP has to say about creating programs, policies, and regulation.
Tools and Resources
Use these resources to help your family develop healthy digital habits.
The Good and Bad of Social Media
The connection between social media and mental health is complicated and personal. Everyone responds to social media differently. Here are a few ways to think about how social media impacts kids and teens.
Online Health and Safety Resources
Explore these resources, provided in collaboration with the Best Practices Workgroup of the Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force, to promote the online health and safety of children and adolescents.
Family Tip Sheet - Building Healthy Digital Habits
When it comes to helping your children build healthy digital habits, you may not know where to start. Here are some research-based tips from pediatricians that can make a big difference for your family. Also available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French and Vietnamese.
AAP Family Media Plan
Media is everywhere, and managing it all can be tough. Use the AAP Family Media Plan to help you and your children set media priorities that matter most to your family. Create your family media plan here.
Multimedia Resources
AAP Webinars
The AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health has hosted webinars on topics related to social media's impact on youth mental health. View the webinars here.
AAP Podcasts
Listen as Dr. Megan Moreno and Dr. Jenny Radesky, co-Medical Directors of the SAMHSA-funded AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health talk about the work of the Center and issues related to social media and youth mental health.
Social Media Tips for Teens
Is social media good or bad for your mental health? It can be both! Create a healthy balance of time online by trying these 4 things.
Media Use Tips to Improve Sleep
This video, created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, provides tips for setting a nighttime routine to ensure a good night's sleep.
Social Media: Enjoy the Upsides and Avoid the Downsides
How you use social media can make a huge difference in whether it has a negative impact on your mental health. Pediatrician Megan Moreno has tips on ways to manage your social media use and reduce the chances it will lead to anxiety, depression, body image problems, eating disorders or other mental health issues.
Stay Up-To-Date on New Resources
The Center of Excellence team is continuously working on developing new resources. Sign up to be added to our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on available resources, events and relevant updates regarding social media and youth mental health.
Additional Information
Contact the Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Looking for more information about the Center of Excellence? Please contact us.
Grant Statement
Funding for the Center of Excellence was made possible by Grant No. SM087180 from SAMHSA of the US 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 US Government.
Last Updated
10/07/2025
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics