The Cons of Children Using Social Media

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“Social media Web sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have become nearly inescapable facets of modern life, particularly for kids” (Gordon). With today’s society, children are growing up with social media. The age for children getting social media is decreasing rapidly. Although children have started using more and more websites, they aren’t always the best choice for them to use. Benefits of people using social sites vary from relieving stress to getting rid of shyness and anxiety. Also, some social media sites have some kind of educational benefits, and of course, it’s a way for people to connect and meet with others. All these benefits sound great, but social media isn’t completely safe. Some risks include cyberbullying, Facebook Depression, internet addiction, sexting, digital footprints, and identity theft. Some sites try to limit kids from using the page by putting an age limit on it, but the age limit doesn’t always prevent the children from still logging on. All in all, children spend way too much time logging into social media web sites, and the risks outweigh the benefits. “Engaging in various forms of social media is a routine activity that research has shown to benefit children and adolescents by enhancing communication, social connection, and even technical skills” (O’Keefe). From using the different sites, children and adults get better motor skills, and they can stay in communication with friends and family. The amount of users of online sites has increased, and kids in today’s society use the sites as a getaway for entertainment and communication (O’Keefe). The amount of time that people are on a social media site is an astounding number. “According to a recent poll, 22% of teenagers log on to their favorite s... ... middle of paper ... ...ial Networking Tips.” Reviews & Age Ratings. Common Sense Media, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. O’Keefe, Gwenn Schurgin, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson. “The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families.” The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Pediatrics, 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Partridge, Stephanie. “Social Network Dangers: The Dark Side of Social Networks.” Child Safety. More4Kids, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Tahnk, Jeana Lee. “13 Tips for Monitoring Kids’ Social Media.” Parenting.com. Parenting, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Taylor, Dr. Jim. “The Bad, the Ugly, and the Good of Children’s Use of Social Media.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 May 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. “University of the PACIFIC.” Online Social Networking Dangers and Benefits. University of the Pacific, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

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