In our daily lives, multitasking has become a recurrent topic. It's amazing how we handle everything.
We all rely on smartphones in our personal,
professional, educational, and social lives. When was the last time you continued
after leaving home without your phone? Our daily lives now contain a large
amount of Internet use. Social networks are also. Teenagers today are impacted
by this.
Use of social networks
Only 5% of American internet users were active
social networkers in 2005 when social media was still in its infancy. This
percentage increased to almost 70% in 2019.
The Pew Research Center surveyed the use and
popularity of social media among US adults in early 2019. The survey found that
while the most used social platforms for adults are YouTube and Facebook, teens
prefer Snapchat and Instagram. At the same time, TikTok is said to be the
fastest-growing social network among younger users.
Social media use is almost universal among today's
teenagers. The Pew Research Center reports that 97 percent of 13- to
17-year-olds use at least one of the seven major online platforms.
Social media use is incredibly time-consuming.
According to one study, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 spend an average of
nine hours on social media, while tweens between the ages of 8 and 12 spend
about six hours daily.
Like other things, utilizing social media has its
advantages (good), drawbacks, and risks (ugly), which can lurk and impact many
people's lives, particularly teens.
Pros: Why are social networks
beneficial?
Technology and social media provide us with more
connectivity and convenience:
·
Stay connected with
family and friends worldwide via email, SMS, FaceTime, and more.
·
rapid access to
research and information
·
Paying bills and
banking at your convenience
·
online education,
career training, and content discovery (YouTube)
·
participation in
civic engagement (fundraising, social awareness, giving voice)
·
wonderful marketing
tools
·
the prospect of
working remotely
·
Social media can benefit
kids, but they should always trust their instincts and talk to an adult—a
parent, teacher, or another respected adult—if they ever feel uneasy about
something they see or read on social media. Social media bullying, threats, and
brutality indicate that the perpetrator needs support.
Cons: Why is social
networking bad?
Along with the good comes the bad. For all its
benefits, social media presents several potential problems.
Online
versus reality: Social networks themselves are not the problem.
It's the way people use it instead of actual communication and personal
socialization. "Friends" on social networks don't have to be friends
or strangers.
Increased
utilization: Increased social media use has been connected to cyberbullying, depression, and exposure to age-inappropriate information.
Social
media is addictive: You try to do your best when you play a game or
complete a task. When you achieve, your brain will release dopamine and other
feel-good chemicals, making you joyful. The same logic is at play when you
upload a photograph to Facebook or Instagram. When you see all the
notifications for likes and supportive remarks on your screen, your
subconscious mind automatically associates them with rewards. But social media
is also full of experiences that might alter your mood.
Fear of
being left out: A recurrent theme that frequently results in
repeated scanning of social media accounts is FOMO. The idea that you may miss
out if you don't use the internet may affect your mental health.
Self-image
problems: Social networking platforms offer tools that let users compare
themselves to others and get compliments on their appearance from other users.
It might be connected to worries about one's body image. The most susceptible
to this are selfie addicts and those who spend most of their time uploading and
scrolling. Most undergraduate girls who use Facebook at least five times daily
will likely relate their worth to how they look. This is not to say that social
media is the main problem; it only provides a medium for it, further elevating
the problem. It also encourages the same kind of behavior in others.
Social networks and suicide
Sadly, the downsides of social media can take a toll
on young minds. For youngsters under 14, suicide is still one of the most
common causes of death. Young people typically die by hanging.
The suicide rate among 10-14-year olds has increased
by more than 50 percent over the past three decades, according to the American
Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The suicide rate among children ages 10 to 14 is
very low, but according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it
is creeping up.
How can parents help?
We, as parents, can do things to enhance our kids'
lives offline and online.
Try to model the behavior we want to see.
Set boundaries the right way when you give your
child their first phone. Set up parental controls on their phone with access to
their passwords. Phones should be charged outside their room at night and
turned off an hour or two before bed.
Talk to your kids about why some things should stay
private.
Take time to actively engage with your children
face-to-face. They learn to read social signs in this interaction, both vocal
and nonverbal.
Talk to your kids without looking at your phone.
Find opportunities to have real conversations that
aren't lectures.