Potential Dangers & Benefits of Children Using Social Media

Most of us are familiar with social media.

Some examples include: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Myspace, Vine, Blogger, Reddit, and Pinterest. 

Although there are privacy settings, and supposed 13+ restrictions on websites, social media is on the rise in children and teens. So much so that a recent survey concluded that 25% of nine year olds are using some type of social media.

How does this impact society? 

A clinical research study was recently conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Social Media and the impact on children, adolescents, and their families. This study revealed that now more than ever children are experiencing a wealth of bullying via the web. Twenty years ago words such as "sexting" and "cyberbullying" had no meaning to most, but unfortunately kids have found a new way to bully and these are terms that are all to fresh in our minds. Another study reported how children are now valuing fame much higher than before as a result of social media; this particular study focused on Facebook. It concluded that because children are posting photos and statuses for likes and snares as a result the children are valuing fame more than ever. In my opinion this article hits the nail on the head. I have a 14 year old sister who's emotions go haywire while on Facebook. If someone posts a better outfit or pair of shoes, she has to compete with them. Although it sounds childish {because it is}, isn't this something we all do from time to time? I know I catch myself comparing my life to others on Facebook and other social media sites. Specifically Pinterest. The housewives who make everything from scratch, including baby clothes and decor, all while having a spotless home. I could never keep up with that!
There are some potential benefits:
 *children building their social skills and ability to make decisions on their own
*discovering information that they do not feel comfortable discussing with their parents such as birth control, depression, and sexually transmitted diseases.

  How does this impact the future? 

More and more children are online, what needs to be done next appears to be in the hands of parents and monitoring their children online. I personally agree with the article which talked about children’s privacy. There is a difference between surveillance and parental controls. I will most certainly do my best to block websites, web searches, etc which have inappropriate content for my children, but I do not need to know every single thing they have searched for and make them play it back to me play by play. My parents had an authoritarian way of life and although I didn’t go through a rebellious stage when I moved out, both my sister and brothers are currently experiencing it.

 This also impacts the future because children can use social media:
 -as a form of activism
 -to redefine boundaries between students and teachers {this is true at my previous high school. Although our district never set boundaries themselves, the teachers wouldn't accept friend requests until we were graduated.}
-redifining parent communication {The article shares a link here to go to the story about Horry County School District, where they now have a Digital Communications Coordinator} http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=535617#.UYpZWLWG3To
^here's the link to that story Also in the Horry County story, the article mentions that 40% of Facebook users are under the age of 25.

 Finally, I would like to share a video I found via YouTube about social media and children.

 

   References

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800.full 

Ellen Niemer, (2012). Teenagers and Social Media. Alive: Canada's Natural Health & Wellness Magazine. 359 (), pp.20-29 

^can be found via OHIOLINK, but link will not work 

Jason Nolan, Kate Raynes-Goldie, Melanie McBride, (2011). The Stranger Danger: Exploring Surveillance, Autonomy, and Privacy in Children's Use of Social Media.. Canadian Children. 36 (e.g. 2), pp.24-32 

^can be found via OHIOLINK but link to full text pdf will not work

 Sally Quinn, Julian A. Oldmeadow, (2012). Is the igeneration a ‘we’ generation? Social networking use among 9- to 13-year-olds and belonging. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 31 (e.g. 2), pp.136-142 

^can be found via OHIOLINK but link to full text pdf isn’t working