by Oreofe Oluda
In as much as we are undeniably in the digital age, and digital literacy is essential even as learning how to speak itself, I still believe there should be a limit in children’s exposure with the vast world of social media. Yes, social media has its numerous benefits and advantages in personal usage and today’s world that it can’t be sidelined it also has its dark side that I think should warrant caution and careful consideration.
A lot of varieties of contents, people, educations, lifestyle are presented on social media that can be overwhelming, even for adults. Kids are naturally feeble minded and curious and may be swayed by harmful content. It’s also what they got exposed to at their early age that will stick to them first and longer which can shape their attitudes and behaviors however it’s can be tedious to change one’s attitudes and status quo.k
Children learn faster because at that age their mind is bare ready for any information or content. Since children’s minds are like sponges, absorbing information quickly, it’s necessary to guard their minds and ensure they’re not to exposed to harmful impacts on social media too early.
Spending more time on the internet can lead to depression and anxiety, because of the existence of cyber bullying, fear of missing out resulting into social media addiction, comparison and so on parents should initiate the limitation of screen time in kids, pre-teens and teens. As cited in (APA, 2020) “teens who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety.” Also in (NIMH, 2020) excessive social media use is associated with increased symptoms depression and anxiety in children and adolescents”.
Parents and guardians should also guide and monitor the contents their children are exposed to, shielding then from sensitive and potentially harmful materials such as violent content, nudity, R-rated movies, corrupted games and complex or mature themes that may be beyond their comprehension or emotional maturity.
I believe parents and guardians should take measurable steps in safeguarding their kids minds such as blocking access to inappropriate websites, movies and TV shows, setting parental controls on devices and platforms, having open conversations with children about online safety and privacy, encouraging age appropriate contents, being aware of their children’s online activities and interests and also encouraging children and teens to engage in physical and offline activities.
By taking these steps, parents and guardians can help create a safer and more supportive environment for their children to grow and develop.