Introduction
Many children and teenagers are joining social networks, the Internet, and other platforms. They are increasingly drawn to the digital environment, which raises the problem of how social media will influence their behavior. While social media can bring many positive changes to their lives, it can also negatively impact them. This article examines the impact of social networks on children and adolescents.
Examining the Impact of Social Media on Children
Social media and the Internet can positively impact children and teenagers. They can give children the opportunity to broaden their circle of knowledge. For example, children can use social media to exchange ideas, learn new technologies, and find information about jobs and other valuable things (McDool et al.). They may also use social media to connect with friends and family, which can benefit children, especially those living in another city or even another country.
However, social media can also bring negative consequences. Children may start exhibiting inappropriate behavior, stress, and discomfort due to constant access to social media. They may be exposed to spam, violence, racism, trafficking, and other objectionable material. They may also show signs of digital addiction, which can negatively affect their health and school performance (Venkatesh et al.).
In general, the impact of social media on children and adolescents can be both positive and negative. Parents must provide support and watch what their children are doing online. They should set rules and boundaries to keep the children safe and enable them to have positive experiences with social media.
Conclusion
To sum up, social networks and the Internet can bring many positive life changes to children. However, their use also has negative consequences. Therefore, parents should monitor their children and teenagers’ use of social networks. They should set rules and boundaries to help kids have positive social media experiences.
Works Cited
McDool, Emily, et al. “The Internet and children’s psychological well-being.” Journal of Health Economics 69, 2020.
Venkatesh, Viswanath, et al. “Children’s Internet addiction, family-to-work conflict, and job outcomes: a study of parent-child dyads.” MIS quarterly 43(3), 2019.