Social media affects behavior negatively by depriving kids of important social cues they would usually learn through in-person communication.
While social media can help kids learn valuable communication skills and form connections with friends they’d never have otherwise, it also has its disadvantages in the sense that no matter the age or where you hang out online, its negative sides are real and can often creep on unnoticed. If you’re thinking of getting your children exposed to the world here are things to look out for for effective monitoring
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1. Cyberbullying: The common presence of social media exposes children to the risk of cyberbullying, leading to emotional distress and potential mental health issues as they cope with online harassment and it cannot be avoided, They believe that for as long as you have a social media account and you are giving an open invitation to bullies.
3. Privacy Concerns: There’s a belief that its easy to harm a person by just following them on social media and this has been backed up so many times in the sense that children can innocently and ignorantly share personal information and photos on social media, making them vulnerable to online predators and privacy breaches.
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4. Comparison and Self-Esteem: The constant bombarding of carefully curated lives and achievements on social media can foster feelings of inadequacy and contribute to low self-esteem as children compare themselves to seemingly perfect personas and this can lead to the fear of missing out, they start feeling like they are missing out on exciting events or activities, and this in turn causes anxiety.
5. Sleep Disruption: Excessive use of social media, especially before bedtime, disrupts sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and diminished academic performance as children struggle to maintain healthy sleep habits.
6. Distraction: The addictive nature of social media can easily consume an adults time talk less of a child, they can easily be swayed by interactions or fun things that they lose sight of other important things child’s time and attention, diverting them from essential responsibilities, studies, and meaningful real-life interactions.
These negative implications highlights the importance of vigilant parental guidance, teaching children about online safety, and creating a healthy balance between digital engagement and offline experiences to promote their overall well-being especially now that the world is digitalized
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