Is Social Media Bad for Children?

This is a question
that many parents are seeking the answer to, as some fear that their kids are
being exposed to a barrage of digital platforms, and in this article, we will
look at social media platforms and how they can affect young people.

The Z
Generation

Your kids were
born into the technological age and they know nothing else, as smartphones and
tablets are the norm for this generation, which is why our kids can easily fix
an IT issue that we may have. They know more about digital technology than most
of their parents, so the Internet is not a stranger; however, there are things
on the web that we don’t want them looking at, so make good use of filters
(research them if you don’t know) that prevent access to known unsuitable
content.

Social Media

We first must
understand what social media is; a platform to chat, share photos, videos and
general communication with other users. It is perfectly normal for your child
to chat with school friends on Facebook or Twitter; indeed, they are much safer
in that environment than some strange chat forum where they could be groomed by
a stranger. Take, for example, a school such as St
Andrews in Bangkok
where the students are familiar with many digital platforms, indeed, a lot of
the curriculum is delivered electronically, social media interaction is
actively encouraged and for the kids, is an accepted way of keeping in touch.

Monitor your
Child’s Internet Activity

The World Wide Web
offers a universe of digital pages, therefore, children should be monitored
when accessing the Internet. The following activities should be encouraged:

• Searching
  for information with Google
• Learning
  about software
• Communication
  with friends
• Playing
  educational games

Things they should
not be doing include:

• Playing
  violent games
• Talking
  to strangers
• Joining
  forums

Spending too much
time on any one aspect of the Internet is not good for a child, and make sure
to include some healthy outdoor activities, as growing children must exercise
and spend time in natural surroundings.

Looking to the
Future

One thing is for
certain, the pace of tech development is not slowing down, and every child
should incorporate this into their life, however, parental guidance is
essential, so make sure you take a sneak look at what your child is doing now
and then, plus you can discuss the Internet, which will reveal any issues.

It isn’t social
media we should be concerned about regarding our children, rather it should be
restricted to chatting with people they know and avoiding any new online
relationships. It is very easy to create an online profile that is completely
false, and we’ve all heard horror grooming stories on Internet forums, but with
some parental guidance, your child can reap the many benefits of digital
technology.

Keeping a watchful eye on your child’s Internet activity will ensure that all is well, and if you have any tech difficulties, your son or daughter can fix it for you.