Ahmed Othman, a 17-year-old originally from Libya living in Massachusetts, avoids TikTok despite most of his peers using it. He and his younger sister received iPhones in eighth and seventh grade but only used iMessage initially. Their computer scientist parents educated them about social media’s impact on teen mental health, emphasizing that it can be both a useful tool and a potential danger. Othman attributes his healthy relationship with his phone to his parents’ guidance, avoiding TikTok due to its potent algorithm. His parents’ balanced approach—neither banning nor freely allowing social media but gradually teaching its use—is recommended by experts as an effective way to help children navigate social media responsibly.
