What to Do If You Don't Like Your Teen's Friends

Don't like your teen's friends? You're not alone, and it's not as simple as "good" or "bad" peer pressure. Before you forbid a friendship, here's what the research shows: banning friends often backfires. There's a better way to guide your teen, without pushing them away.

👉 Feel like you're losing your teen to their friends? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to stay close without competing, talk about friends without starting a fight, and stay the voice their teen trusts. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with peer influence expert Dr. Brett Laursen, a psychology professor at Florida Atlantic University whose research has tracked teen friendships across multiple countries for decades. He shares how friendships shape teen behavior, often for the better, and how parents can stay influential without being controlling.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• What to do, and not do, when you don't like your teen's friends
• How to help your teen find better friends by building on their interests
• Why peer pressure isn't always bad, and can push teens toward good choices
• How middle school shifts teens from adults to peers, and how parenting needs to shift too
• How online and real-world friendships affect vulnerable teens differently

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 How peer pressure works for teens
• 03:01 The good and bad sides of peer influence
• 05:46 When you're worried about your teen's friends
• 08:53 How middle school shifts teens toward peers
• 12:12 Why positive friendships matter
• 15:10 When to step in with friendships
• 18:12 Helping teens who struggle to make friends
• 21:08 Online friendships and influence
• 23:54 Building trust and communication with teens
• 27:01 Letting your teen see you as a real person
• 29:55 Final thoughts on peer influence

CONNECT WITH DR. BRETT LAURSEN

• Website: Laursen Lab at Florida Atlantic University

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.

🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.