Adolescents' widespread engagement with social media has raised concerns about problematic social media use (PSMU) and its impact on mental health, including self-esteem. Early adolescents may be particularly vulnerable due to heightened sensitivity to social rewards and rapid developmental changes in self-esteem. This study examined the relationship between PSMU and self-esteem among Dutch adolescents aged 10–15 and investigated whether this relationship is moderated by social media-specific parenting practices, specifically restrictive and supportive parenting. Using cross-sectional data from 301 parent-adolescent dyads collected via IPSOS I&O, the study assessed adolescent self-reported and parent-reported PSMU, adolescent self-esteem, and restrictive and supportive parenting practices in four separate moderation models. Results showed a consistent negative association between PSMU and self-esteem, supporting previous literature. However, neither restrictive nor supportive parenting moderated the relationship between PSMU and self-esteem. Notably, supportive parenting did have a direct positive relationship with self-esteem. These findings underscore the relevance of supportive parenting for adolescent well-being, although suggesting that it may not directly buffer the negative impact of PSMU. Further longitudinal and multi-method research is recommended to better understand the role of parenting in adolescents' digital experiences, particularly during early adolescence.

Keywords: problematic social media use, self-esteem, early adolescence, parenting practices, restrictive parenting, supportive parenting, digital well-being