Social Media and its Effect on Children

Many popular social media platforms have been launched in the last two decades, and it may be challenging to imagine the modern world without them. They have attracted billions of individuals worldwide and have significantly affected different aspects of their everyday lives. Without any doubt, the most active users of electronic media are teenagers, who are, at the same time, the most vulnerable and susceptible to outside influence. Hence, it is vital to understand what effect the Internet and electronic media may have on them. On the one hand, healthcare providers, policymakers, teachers, and parents raise numerous concerns regarding the effect of social media sites on children. They mostly pay attention to the adverse impact of excessive smartphone use and rarely discuss the positive sides of portable devices. Depression, sleep deprivation, negative body image, and cyberbullying are only a few consequences of electronic media use. On the other hand, many people note that the panic surrounding the issue is as unreasonable as concerns about television. They also believe that electronic media simplify different processes and create numerous opportunities for children to learn and communicate. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the issue more deeply, as it triggers vigorous debates and is highly relevant in the modern world. Fortunately, there is much research on the subject, which carefully examines its different aspects ranging from personal effects to social changes. Only by analyzing recently conducted studies and estimating their results is it possible to make objective conclusions regarding the effect of electronic media on children. However, it is evident that individuals can successfully control its influence by simple steps such as restricting screen time or filtering the information their children consume.