Social Media: Psychologically and Physically Harmful to Children

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Adults may be surprised how common sexting is within the teen community. Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs via cell phones. The survey cited in the report indicates that 20% of teenagers admit to sending nude or seminude photos of themselves over the Internet. (O’Keeffe, 2011). The widespread distribution of such photos via cell phones and computers may result in emotional distress, school suspension, and legal problems. Although some states consider such activities as misdemeanors, others have filed felony pornography charges for these activities. Adolescents need to know that once they post something, it cannot be taken back and can follow them.

Another secondary affect from social media is an increase in Internet addiction. Internet addiction has symptoms of lying, fatigue, depression, and social anxiety. There is now alarming evidence that those with Internet addiction experience a release of Dopamine, similar to Dopamine releases of drug users, claims Internetaddictiondisorder.org. According to Aviv Weinstein, Ph. D., Nuclear Medicine, and Michel Lejoyeux, Ph.D., Psychiatry, Internet addiction is defined as the following:

“1) Excessive Internet use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives, 2) withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible, 3) tolerance, including the need for better equipment, more software, or more hours of use, and 4) adverse consequences, including arguments, lying, poor school or vocational achievement, social isolation, and fatigue.” (Weinstein, A., & Lejoyeux, M. 2010, p. 278).

Weinstein and Lejoyeux further go on to explain that a study was done on Internet-dependent children. The study found that Internet-dependent children chose to spend time on the internet to cope with negative emotions that differed from other children. (Weinstein, A., & Lejoyeux, M. 2010, p. 279). Those negative emotions that Internet-dependent/addicted children are experiencing are depression and anxiety. Further, the known health hazard of Internet-addiction is sleep deprivation. Research by Weinstein and Lejoyeux has also reveled that those with an Internet addiction reported higher numbers of insomnia, sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and nightmares.

Other risks to preadolescents and adolescents online today are lack of privacy, sharing too much information, or position false information about themselves or others. When Internet users visit various Web sites, they can leave behind evidence of which sites they have visited. This collective, ongoing record of one's Web activity is called the “digital footprint.” One of the biggest risks to young people on social Web sites is to their digital footprint and future reputations. Preadolescents and adolescents who lack an awareness of privacy issues often post inappropriate messages, pictures, and videos without understanding that what goes online, stays online. As a result, future jobs or college applications may be put in jeopardy.

Positive Affects of Social Media

While there is no doubt that there are a lot of negative secondary and tertiary affects of social media on children, there are positive affects too. Social media can provide several learning opportunities for children and teens. Children and teens can learn to improve their communication and socialization skills. Different platforms of social media can enhance creativity through words, art, and music. There are more opportunities of community involvement found in social media. The ability to access and research health information can often be viewed as a positive affect of social media, too.

H. Vanwynsberghe and P. Verdeem proposed a framework to integrate social media literacy in an educational setting. They first pointed out that social media requires cognitive competences to access, analyze, evaluate, and create social media content. They posed an argument that with the direction our society is moving, the need to communicate via social media is crucial. They further go on to state:

“For relevance of it in the educational context, four arguments can be distinguished: 1) the pedagogic argument, namely that youth learns best through making it by their own, 2) the employment argument that people who are able to create media messages themselves become more valuable in the labor market, 3) the cultural argument that citizens have the right to self-expression and cultural participation, and 4) the political argument that the creation of media messages stimulates democracy and active citizenship. Plainly stated, “teaching youth the abilities how to produce content is more crucial than ever.” (Vanwynsberghe, H., & Verdegem, P. 2013 p.4).

Essentially what H. Vanwynsberghe and P. Verdeem were saying is that our society as a whole is changing, and in order to be a well-rounded individual one needs to have the skills communicate through social media. The above-mentioned pedagogic argument can be made both ways – by teaching through social media or not using social media. The employment argument made is an extremely valuable one. The job market is ever changing and most companies aren’t posting jobs and hiring in the traditional manner as they once were. The cultural argument could go both ways, being a benefit and being detrimental to the child. Yes, children have the right to self-expression and cultural participation, but there is a fine line because bullying could so easily happen.

Another aspect of integrating social media in education is to improve communication and teamwork skills. Students who use social media can connect with each other outside of class to help each other with assignments and group projects. There are schools reporting that the uses of blogs as teaching tools are successful. It allows the student to access information learned in the classroom. (O’Keeffe, 2011)

What parents can do to help

While there is no doubt that social media can be helpful to children, the negative affects of social media far outweigh the positive affects. In order to reap the benefits of social media, children should have monitored time on social media. Furthermore, parents need to be more aware of the problems caused by children using social media and need to be more involved in their children’s lives.

The first things parents can do is address the problem of children becoming addicted to social media. In a two-parent household, it is critical that both parents present a united front. As parents, each must take the issue seriously and agree on common goals. Discuss the situation together and if necessary, compromise on desired