Their brain development isn ’ t giving them an easy ride , either . The part of the brain that elicits emotional responses ( the amygdala ) is well-developed by the time your kids become teens . With hormones flooding the brain during puberty , the amygdala is very busy indeed . However , the region of the brain that mediates emotional responses ( the prefrontal cortex ) is still under development until much later in life ( up to 25 years old ). This leaves the emotional-processing centre of the brain flying solo for a while . When you add the more adult-like demands of relationship-forming and navigating complex social interactions into this equation , teens can find it tough .
So why are these teenage social interactions and friendships important ? Firstly , they provide a normalising support network and a sense of belonging in being with others who are going through the same experiences as themselves ( whether this be stress at school , early
The part of the brain that elicits emotional responses is well-developed by the time your kids become teens intimate relationships , or otherwise ). These interactions also provide information about puberty , physical , emotional and sexual development that can be invaluable to a teen . Social networks provide an opportunity to experiment with different identities , values and roles . As they move through their adolescence , teens engage in finding the answer to the question ‘ who am I ?’; trying to define their own self-concept . This identity development can be a rocky road , and therefore having people to talk to who are on the same journey is key . Teen interactions also provide exposure and experience to solving and handling more complicated social and emotional issues amongst their peers , in which previously adults would have taken a lead . This develops an individual ’ s ability to navigate similar situations in later life .
The amount of time that teens spend on social media can be partially explained by the need to be working on
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