17 Alarming Effects of Social Media on Children’s Development
Social media can be both good and bad for kids and teens. On the good side, it helps them stay connected, feel included, and find ways to stay entertained. It can make them feel less alone and create positive spaces. But on the other side, it can also have risks that aren’t always easy to notice and might affect their mental health. That’s why it’s important to understand the ups and downs, so you can help your kids use social media in a safe and healthy way.
Note: The content of this article does not reflect the writer’s personal beliefs.
Comparison
With so many influencers constantly showing stunning pictures of their bodies and amazing holidays, it’s hard not to compare our situation with theirs. For kids, this may be even more challenging as, unlike us, they may not always be aware that not all of what they see is real.
Addiction
Unfortunately, so many kids nowadays are addicted to social media. This refers to a strong need to constantly check these platforms and devote so much time and effort to them that it negatively affects other fundamental areas of a kid’s life, such as academic achievements.
FOMO
FOMO, an acronym for Fear Of Missing Out, is increasingly impacting our kids and teens. Whenever they scroll through their social media, they are constantly reminded that someone out there is living the best possible life, and they are not.
Isolation
Unfortunately, social media is often associated with isolation among teens. Despite being known for connecting people, these platforms rarely keep their promises. While teens may be able to digitally connect with their friends through photos and posts, real-life connections are often jeopardized.
Unrealistic Standards
Social media is also responsible for setting unrealistic standards to which young teens regularly compare themselves. Photos on social media are often modified to obtain the perfect body image, and only in recent years has it become common to show body imperfections.
Exposure to Inappropriate Content
Millions of photos and videos are posted daily on social media, with a bulk of them highly inappropriate. Although parents may set up parental controls on certain apps, it is still impossible to filter out all the inappropriate stuff from the internet. Today, it’s easier than ever to come across explicit content that affects their brains negatively.
Perceived Isolation
Apart from isolation, social media are also responsible for perceived isolation. For instance, your kid may have a great group of friends with whom he often hangs out. However, he may think his socialization is lacking compared to the many pictures of people joining parties and cool events on social media.
Sleep Deprivation
Social media usage has also been linked to poor sleep quality, making your kid feel tired throughout the day. A good way to avoid this is by setting limits on when your children are allowed to use their phones, such as introducing a rule prohibiting screen time after a certain hour.
Dopamine Boost
We all know that social media, especially those relying on people’s short attention spans, are addictive due to their dopamine boosts. Using these platforms activates the reward centers of our brain linked to other pleasurable activities, such as eating sugar or other, leading to an addiction.
Eating Disorders
As we mentioned before, social media usage is often linked to unrealistic standards, especially when it comes to body image. Even though some platforms are trying to find these trends, plenty of users still promote unhealthy diets and habits leading to eating disorders, such as anorexia.
Self-Worth
Using social media can also lead to a wrong idea of self-worth. Rather than focusing on achievements and personal goals, young teens are now prone to associate their idea of success with the number of followers and likes they get on these platforms.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is defined as the use of technology to threaten, harass, or embarrass people. Unfortunately, it is incredibly difficult to prevent this type of bullying from happening, as parents and teachers are often unaware of it. Despite this, cyberbullying can have terrible consequences for kids, impacting their psychological well-being.
Attention Span
Social media also negatively affects our ability to focus for prolonged periods. No wonder why videos are becoming shorter and shorter. This means that kids are now struggling more than ever to pay attention in class.
Information Overload
This problem affects all sorts of generations. To understand what it means, think of a typical night at home trying to choose something to watch on Netflix. It often takes us hours of scrolling to find something, and more often than not, we end up watching nothing. Nowadays, kids have access to too much information, leading to general indecisiveness affecting all aspects of their lives.
Reduced Productivity
Social media can also have drastic consequences for kids’ productivity. Just think how difficult it is to concentrate on a task when your phone keeps beeping to inform you you received yet another notification. If it’s hard for you, imagine how difficult it is for kids.
Increasing Risk of Identity Theft
Kids who overshare personal details online put themselves at greater risk for identity theft and fraud. They might not realize the importance of keeping their information private, making them vulnerable to scams and theft. It’s vital to educate them about online safety and the risks of sharing too much so they can protect themselves and their personal data.
Fewer Hobbies
Spending hours on social media every day means that your kid won’t feel the need to dedicate his free time to a healthy hobby, such as learning a musical instrument, becoming a talented artist, or joining a sports group. This is extremely bad for your child’s development as hobbies and passions help us develop a sense of self.
More For You
Raising kids is not easy, and social media has surely made everything more challenging. However, there is no need to despair. You can still raise happy and fulfilled children with the right tips and tricks. Here are a few life lessons I decided to teach my daughters before they turn 13.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
