As social media usage has become more popular for people of all ages, young adults and teenagers make up the majority of users. Most teens and even preteens use some form of social media every single day. Many of them are using multiple apps and spending a significant amount of time on social media.
As a parent, it is important to teach kids how to be smart about social media to minimize the risks that can be present online. Unfortunately, teens who use social media have reported problems like anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and bullying on social media platforms.
Safety And Privacy Concerns
When teaching kids how to be smart about social media, it goes without saying that you need to notify them about privacy and safety issues. Sometimes without meaning to, young adults can share far more information than they should—sometimes to a total stranger.
Many kids, for example, post their photos along with their real names on their profiles and may share things like their school’s name, the town where they live, their schedule, or even their physical address. Their birthdates and interests can also expose them to serious criminal activity.
Revealing this kind of information can make your child vulnerable targets for online predators. Many children don't realize the nefarious side of social media apps and the internet, so it's your job as a parent to teach kids how to be smart about social media and to minimize these possibilities.
Cyberbullying
With so many teens and preteens using various forms of social media, it can become a place to carry out bullying. Many bullies use the internet’s “cloak of anonymity” to act aggressively toward others online and without consequence. This can increase the risk of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and even suicide for victims and families.
Reputation Issues
It's well worth teaching your child that what goes out over a phone or on the internet could stay there forever. It could also cause long-lasting damage to their character and reputation. Comments, videos, and photos made online typically can't be taken back after they are posted, and even if they're deleted, they could be captured or someone could take a screenshot.
It can be very difficult to erase one momentary lapse in judgment from the internet, and these problems can come up even years later, such as when a teenager applies for a job in the future.
Inappropriate Content
Children may access inappropriate content on social media apps, especially if children lie about their age in order to get access to these apps and websites when they are unsupervised by parents.
Mental Health Effects
It is well-documented that spending too much time on social media can have far-reaching adverse effects on your child’s mental health. Many children focus on comparing themselves with their peers and the highlight reel of everyone else they see on social media.
They can also easily feel excluded from events when they see people in their school spending time together when they have not been included. Children who lurk passively in the background of a chat or social media app can often be unhappier than those who send messages to friends and actively post.
Time Drain
The time wasted on social media and related apps can really add up. This can pull your child away from exercising, spending time with friends, sleeping, reading, doing homework, or enjoying the outdoors.