Your child watches a goalkeeper highlight reel and says: "Everyone saves better than me." Instead of blaming the phone, explore the comparison with them. A curated clip shows one moment, not the entire matchday or the person behind it.
What information is missing?
- Are you only seeing highlights where everything went right?
- Which position, playing time and responsibilities are being compared?
- Is a technique seen as an idea for learning, or is their self-worth being judged?
- How does your child feel after this content – curious, motivated, or diminished?
Try out a self-chosen change
If certain accounts are causing stress, your child can mute them or take a break. There is no set timeframe required from this article. Reflect on your own comparisons and forwards in family or team chats, too. Never post match clips of your child without checking with them first.
- “What are you learning from the video – and what is it telling you about yourself right now, even though it can’t actually show that?”
- “Do you want to mute the account for a bit and see how that feels?”
- “What things have you tried out yourself in training?”
Out of the game
After missing out on selection, your child goes through all the posts from friends who were picked. You don't need to forbid envy or run the others down. "That's really tough to look at right now. It's completely okay to take a step back from social media without giving up on the friendship."
When it's no longer just a comparison
Demeaning messages, threats or shared pictures without consent require safeguarding and adult intervention. Your child does not have to deal with this alone by ignoring it. Seek trusted support within the club or independent advice; do not forward sensitive content unnecessarily.
Remember this
Making the comparison concrete, respecting privacy, and reshaping digital habits together.