Common Sense Media's Influence On Teenagers

According to a study by Common Sense Media, teenagers in the U.S. are using media an average of 9 hours a day. There is no mystery behind why teens enjoy the internet; it is a wonderful place, with the world's largest libraries, arcades, and stores. Anyone can do anything on the internet; but, with great power, comes great responsibility–something many teens lack. Parents should be protecting their children by monitoring internet usage, in case of internet predators, inappropriate websites, and to prevent cyberbullying.
On the internet, crime is everywhere. Sometimes, it’s something as relatively harmless as an email telling you that you have just received “free money” after you give your credit-card information. On the other hand, “internet-predators” …show more content…

This includes violent or pornographic content, illegal marketplaces for drugs or weapons, as well as other sites like gambling sites. According to CNN, a study says that 65% of children, ages 7-12, have played the online game “Grand Theft Auto”, one of the most violent, pornographic, and generally mature games of our time. Parents should at least know what is in a video game before they let their children play it, so their children don’t get exposed to sex, violence, and drugs in a realistic-looking fashion without their parents knowing. According to an article on MotherJones.com, it is possible to buy a gun on sites like reddit and craigslist. This is especially dangerous for teens because they don’t need a credit card to pay up-front on craigslist, so they can buy a weapon for cash without a background check. Amazon also sells a variety of knives, where teens only need a gift card to buy them. Parents need to be informed of the sites their kids are accessing online to protect them and to ensure the safety of …show more content…

Social pressure is a big deal in teen lives, and too much of it causes stress and depression. Bullying increases social pressure, but a lot of the time, it is easy to get an adult and stand up to it. Online, bullying goes much farther. Attackers feel safe behind their screen and do things that they wouldn’t do face to face. There have been many very serious cases of cyberbullying, many leading to suicide, including Ryan Halligan in 2003, who hanged himself because his “friends” were harassing him online. Parents need to be held responsible for making sure their kids are chatting with trustworthy people online and not bullying others.
Teens can be exposed a lot of bad things on the internet, and it is a parent’s duty to keep children out of them. Sexual predators find their targets on the internet by hiding behind fake identities and preying on children's trust. Young children and teens are constantly exposed to violent, pornographic, mature content, and teens are cyberbullied and cyberbully others, all without the supervision of their parents. Parents need to monitor their teen’s internet use for the safety of their children. A safer internet environment is dependant on parent involvement in their child’s online