Peer Pressure: It's Not Just About Substances

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SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

Encourage open conversations about healthy decision-making so kids feel empowered to choose what’s best for their learning and well-being.

TODAY’S TOPIC

Peer Pressure: It’s Not Just About Substances

For years, parents have drilled the idea of peer pressure into their children’s heads. Reminding kids that they do not have to drink the ‘kool-aid’ or give in and partake in underage drug use. What these adults forget to realize is that peer pressure relates to all aspects of kids' lives—influencing school work, bullying, social media, and relationships on a day-to-day level.

A statistic that is often shocking is the myth of how many teens are actually drinking—only 13.3% of people ages 12-20 have had alcohol. What often goes unnoticed, on the other hand, is the way that peer pressure subconsciously affects kids and teens. Compared to the percentage we saw before, a whopping 86% of students use AI for school on a regular basis, according to the College Board. This statistic is concerning as it clearly is affecting the general students’ education at a much more widespread level than substances.

The use of AI is just one of many examples of how students are pressured and influenced into doing things that impact them on a deeper level. The biggest concern with this is that students who would never have even considered it before are now using it at an alarming rate—creating a gap in education that has never been seen before.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

How to Create a Healthy Space in Order to Avoid Peer Pressure

Make a Space
Whether this is a physical, mental, or temporal space, having a spot in which your child or teen feels comfortable to come to you with questions or concerns is important. It builds the mentality that although you are a parent, you are still a safe space for them to explore the world and make mistakes (an embarrassing, but all too real human trait).

Understand the Healthy vs. Unhealthy Uses of AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence is a huge part of society as we know it. It allows for so many technological advancements—improving healthcare, predicting disasters, and much more. What the other reality is, unfortunately, removing many of the necessary challenges in education.

Work With Your Children/Teens for Healthy Social Media Use
It is almost inevitable your kids are going to ask to get on some kind of social media. Instead of setting a hard no, ask why and use this answer to figure out a compromise. Kids need monitoring, but oftentimes definite no’s result in deceptiveness and anger, while compromises lead to communication and trust.

Recognize the Signs of Misuse
When you start to notice changes in your child’s typical behaviors, it might be time to start a conversation. Even if you see signs—never jump to conclusions, rather talk first then adjust. In these situations there are so many possibilities to what could be going on, and opening up the floor to communicate is the best way to decipher what’s going, and therefore provide proper support.