A California jury just made history by finding Meta and YouTube liable for mental health harms to young people using their platforms. It’s a landmark moment that proves what many of us have suspected for years: these apps were designed to be addictive, and nobody was really held accountable until now.

But here’s the thing, lawsuits and regulations take time. Your kid is probably already scrolling through their feed right now. So what can you actually do about it?

According to experts, the answer isn’t setting draconian rules or throwing away your teen’s phone. The real magic happens when you just… talk to them. Sounds simple, right? But most parents skip this step and go straight to “no screen time after 9 p.m”. Instead, ask your kid what they’re actually enjoying online. What influencers are they following? How are they feeling about TikTok or Instagram? This approach gives you real insight into their world instead of just guessing.

Jenny Radesky, a developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert at the University of Michigan, emphasizes that open-ended questions work best. Let your teen share their perspective. Ask them about posts they find funny, cool, or even creepy. From there, you can work together on solutions, like resetting their feed or taking breaks from certain apps. The key is framing these boundaries around their well-being, not as punishments.

Now, should you set limits? Absolutely. But they need to match your specific kid’s needs. If social media is destroying their sleep, keep phones downstairs at night. If they’re scrolling mindlessly for hours, set a 20-minute timer. If they reach for their phone out of pure boredom, plan a weekly family activity instead. The point is being intentional, not just reactive.

About that age question everyone asks, most platforms require you to be 13, but experts say many kids benefit from waiting even longer. Some parents are joining the “Wait Until 8th” movement, holding off on smartphones until middle school. But honestly? There’s no magic number. What matters is your child’s maturity level and your family’s values.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth though: this isn’t just a teen problem. These platforms are designed to hook everyone. So if you want your kid to change their habits, you need to model better behavior yourself. Stop mindlessly scrolling in front of them. Explain why you’re actually on your phone, checking work emails or looking up a recipe. When parents lead by example, kids actually listen.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a free family media plan tool online that can help you create personalized recommendations. The goal isn’t to eliminate social media from your family’s life, it’s to make it healthier for everyone. Work together on this. Make changes as a team. Because at the end of the day, your relationship with your kid matters way more than any app does.