By Emma Wertheimer, Year 9
Social media is often making an appearance on the news these days. For the past few years, social media platforms have caused much controversy because of their popularity amongst young people. Most parents admit that they are concerned about their children and how often they use social media. According to The New York Times, the usage of social media has increased by 31 percent among tweens over the past four years. Many experts in the field are concerned about children and how to keep them safe, as well as from coming across graphic content and fake news.
Although these concerns are valid and should be addressed, social media also has a positive aspect. Children are able to learn from and be inspired by social media, as well as being able to express themselves and share their creativity. This also allows teenagers to find groups of like-minded people who share the same passions and for them to share their knowledge with others. It also allows them to stay in touch with friends and/or family all around the world. I was once able to find an old friend who had moved away a couple of years back because of a friend we had in common, and all three of us were using the same platform; this only reminds us how important social media can be to young people.
Social media can be a positive tool if used correctly and if boundaries are properly set. Like many things, it also had a dark side. These negatives include cyberbullying as well as addiction and creating low self-esteem. One of the problems of social media is that it makes bullying easier, as it saves having to deal with the consequences. Another issue with social media is how simple it is for people to become addicted in a short amount of time. Finally, social media is often the cause of people’s insecurities and low self-esteem as they are constantly comparing themselves to others and are exposed to unrealistic aspects of life and photos, with some of these even being AI-generated.
While the idea of teenagers being on social media can be problematic, if it is used properly and responsibly, it can have a largely positive impact on them, as well as their education, creativity and ability to express themselves. However, this is not to say that social media platforms could not do more to be involved in online safety. Parents, on the other hand, should also know more about how dangerous it can be, because it encourages them to set proper boundaries for their children.
