On Sept. 6, psychologist Dr. Leonard Sax visited Palmetto to speak about his latest book, “The Collapse of Parenting.” Dr. Sax discussed the rules he believes parents should implement  in modern households to ensure the mental wellness and success of teens.

In his presentation, Dr. Sax recommended that parents monitor their child’s text messages and use of social media sites. Although this seemed intense to some parents in the audience, others agreed with his methods.

“Yes I will be using [Sax’s two main tips],” mother Larissa Siegel said. “Let’s just say my kids are going to hate me.”

Dr. Sax had reasoned his call for parents to take these actions. Dr. Sax expressed his main concern for sexually explicit conversations within unmonitored teen texting. These regularly occurring conversations could lead to an increased likelihood of that child engaging in sexual activity.

Giving adolescent teens the freedom to send messages without supervision could endanger them. Yet while parents see this action as a form of protection, teens could see it as an invasion of privacy.  

“They have the right to see our text messages because they purchased our phones and they pay for everything that is on our phones, but I don’t think they should because they should respect our privacy,” junior Ben Santiago said.

Dr. Sax also suggested monitoring social media sites.

“Researchers have looked at the way American kids are using social media. You won’t find five paragraph essays on ‘what kind of woman I want to become,’” Dr. Sax said. “You’ll find lots of photos, with cryptic captions, ones that will be liked by her audience. It’s a performance.”

Sax also went into further detail regarding the negative ways social media affect teens. According to a 2009 study done by psychologist Megan Mathers, teens using social media platforms are five times more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and stress. Some teens feel aware of how social media impacts their emotions, which can quickly change by the amount of likes or followers they receive.

“Because a lot of people try to make their Instagrams or Twitters look super cool and an ideal life,” junior Alexis Garcia- Ruiz said. “People compare their lives to that even if it isn’t a realistic representation of life.”