Social media has
become an unavoidable presence in our daily lives, and today it touches nearly
every person in the country, from young to old. If you’re worried about what
this will mean for the future of our children, you’re not alone. Do social
media platforms like Facebook
and Twitter have a
negative impact on our kids? Or are they merely tools that can be used
positively or negatively? This piece will explore some of the answers to these
questions and more!
Social media Trends are
Changing
Studies show that while overall use of social media is not
in decline, Americans are spending less time on Twitter and Facebook every day. The growing focus among
teens toward Instagram and
TikTok indicates that our next generation may spend even less time posting on
traditional social networks. This change may impact children’s (and teenagers’)
future health and productivity, but so far it seems relatively harmless;
however we should still ask ourselves how we can limit social
media consumption without stifling creativity. For example,
teachers should have policies in place limiting phone use during class time but
could encourage students to develop new, alternative forms of expression via
smartphone apps or online platforms.
Real World Interaction is
Beneficial
From childhood development experts to Silicon Valley techies, people are
having a lot of conversations about how social media is
going to affect kids. There’s no doubt that social media is
creating entirely new types of opportunities and connections for our children,
but most everyone agrees that there is something important being lost in all of
it—the chance for real human interaction. Technology may allow us to do more
with less effort, but it shouldn’t be at our expense. These people argue that even
if we don’t have time for our kids as much as previous generations did, we can
still provide them with valuable experiences by taking advantage of modern
technology in a smart way.
What are their other
activities?
Facebook and smartphones are huge
time sucks, so what else do kids do with their free time? According to a new
study conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs
Research, in 2016 teens spent about 9 hours on any kind of electronic device.
This includes social media, listening to
music and watching video. The majority of that was spent on smart phones with 27% spent on
Facebook and 15% spent texting. Snapchat
followed closely behind at 13%. It seems most teenagers like a balance between
their different activities as they spend an average of 5 hours per day doing
any combination of social media,
phones or music. Even though it may be hard to get your teenager off their phone today, it looks like most teenagers are able keep
themselves occupied in moderation.
Encourage Creativity in
Your Kids
When it comes to social media, you may
be better off encouraging your children (and yourself) to take breaks. Studies
show that taking a break can help you appreciate things more—and doesn’t have
an impact on your sense of well-being. When we rely on social
media too much, it can be easy for our lives and
personalities to revolve around likes, comments, and followers. As a result, we
might not pay as much attention as we should in other areas of our lives,
especially ones that promote creativity. There’s no harm in liking a photo here
or there—but if you find yourself constantly needing Facebook or Instagram likes
to feel good about yourself, it might be time for a little break.
Teach Your Child How to
Use Technology Effectively
One of your most important jobs as a parent is to teach your child how
to use new technologies. In some ways, it’s like teaching them how to cross
streets, play in traffic or talk with strangers; if you don’t step in and teach
them about online safety and online etiquette, someone else will. Acknowledging
social media’s value is an
important first step for parents—it enables you to harness its usefulness for
yourself and your children.
Help Them Understand
Online Relationships
Despite what teens and twenty-somethings might think, social
media isn’t always a fun game. It requires real
relationships, and these take time to develop. Like in every kind of
relationship, it helps to actually know someone before you reveal too much
about yourself. Today’s youth need to understand that revealing personal
information on social media is no different
than talking with strangers they meet face-to-face.
Talk About Their
Insecurities
If someone posted a photo of their child, you might be inclined to only
leave comments about how adorable they are or which parent they look like. Comments
like these don’t help kids develop healthy self-esteem, and one study suggests
that narcissism in children is directly related to being raised on social
media. Commenting about your child’s insecurity instead of
positive traits might lead them toward more secure self-esteem later in life.
Instead of commenting about something like their hair (which is perfectly
normal for children), comment on something that isn’t as easy for everyone
else: say, whether or not they were smiling in a picture.
Creating social media
policies
It’s never too early to teach your
children about appropriate online behavior, so make sure your family has a social
media policy. This should be in place well before kids
start using social media platforms, and it
should not just limit kids from posting inappropriate content on their own
pages but also help them decide which accounts and content are safe for them to
view or share. Teach kids that any account they create is automatically public
unless specified otherwise by the account owner, and that anyone can search
their full name with a simple Google search—that
includes strangers and people they don’t know. Depending on your child’s age,
you may want to go over settings on platforms like Facebook (or Pinterest
or Twitter or YouTube) that allow parents more control over what
their children see.
Control Their Use of
Devices
Studies have found that when children use devices such as computers,
tablets and smartphones, their brains secrete less dopamine, which is a
chemical that helps with focus and long-term memory. As a result, studies
suggest that children who are heavy social media users
have shorter attention spans and lower reading levels than those who don't.
Researchers also found those same children had difficulty maintaining
relationships—especially with their peers—and were considered more lonely by
their teachers. Since social media is
here to stay, it’s important for parents to control their kids' use of these
devices in order to keep them focused on schoolwork and extracurricular
activities.
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