The hidden dangers of social media for children’s mental health are significant and worrying.
Research has shown that not less than 40 out of 100 children between the ages of 8 and 12 are active on social media at any time, sadly without their parents supervising them. People are discussing teens’ use of social media more frequently. This is very alarming, to say the least.
While social media offers numerous benefits, it also poses unnoticed dangers for children who become addicted to it. One such danger is the potential negative impact on children’s mental health, a concern that parents should take seriously. Social media poses hidden risks to children’s mental health.
Introducing children and adolescents to social media can enhance their communication and socialization skills, open up new learning opportunities, and provide them with valuable information. However, they may encounter inaccurate information that could negatively impact their psychosocial behaviours and lead them to make incorrect choices.
According to research (AIDOO, 2019), “Influences of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health in Hana,” parents and adults must monitor children’s use of social media to prevent vices and bad behaviors like sexting, cyberbullying, anxiety, social isolation, and suicide (Ibid.). One critical finding is that children who use social media become anti-social and lack empathy for others.
The Education Policy Institute and The Prince’s Trust conducted another study that connected adolescents, particularly girls who use excessive social media, to negative well-being and self-esteem, feelings of depression, and hopelessness.
As children on Earth, we immerse ourselves in social media, seeking a fresh, transformed, and more attractive identity.
In the digital age we live in today, the internet has become a must-have part of our lives, as well as that of children. Despite the amazing benefits of social media, children often use it as a sharp tool without parental supervision.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and others pose serious risks to children’s mental health.
We must shed light on these dangers to equip parents with the necessary knowledge and tools to protect their children from the harmful effects of social media.
Understanding the risks
Parents who lose their guards to moderate the use of social media by children end up exposing the young minds to diverse risks that often have long-lasting effects on mental health.
Cyberbullying
We all know bullying happens in school and on our streets in communities, but not throughout the day. Cyberbullying occurs continuously, and the internet facilitates easy victimization.
All manner of threats, harassment, and negative comments can be thrown at children by cyberbullies, which can affect the mental health of the bullied child and lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts if care is not taken.
Exposure to inappropriate content:
If a child’s use of social media is unregulated, they may easily encounter inappropriate content on the internet. Age-appropriate materials thrown at children online include violent videos, explicit images, and harmful ideologies.
Such materials can confuse children, compel them to make wrong choices, and even distress their young minds.
Social Comparison:
Social media, for instance, is a home for all manner of carefully curated images and posts.
When a child encounters such content, they may begin to compare their own lives to the fabricated and seemingly flawless lives they portray online.
If not taken care of, such content can make children who come into contact with it feel a sense of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
The psychological impact of social media’s dangers on children’s mental health is real.
There are numerous ways to observe the effects.
Anxiety among children: When children are exposed to excessive social media with a lack of parental control and moderation, they may feel the pressure to conform to the standards set by their peers and influencers online, leading to a sudden and gradual change in behaviour, choice of words, clothes, food, and others.
Children who use social media also suffer from depression.
They end up becoming isolated, disconnected from their real-life relationships, and unsupported in times of need. If your ward has all their best friends online, many of whom they have never met before, you, as a parent, must be concerned.
Low self-esteem is another danger of social media, as it compels the child to frequently compare himself or herself to another person online. This can erode the child’s self-esteem. Such children may end up feeling less worthy or capable compared to their peers.
There are warning signs for parents of children who are using social media.
If you identify any of the following, it is time to take action to save your child.
Changes in behavior include the child withdrawing, becoming irritable, or becoming anxious.
There has been a decline in academic performance and/or a decrease in interest in schoolwork. Your child is constantly online or using a phone you’ve bought for him or her.
Excessive use of social media, often without parental awareness, can contribute to your child’s difficulty sleeping. This often indicates that the child is using the internet frequently at night, resulting in less sleep.
The child exhibits a strong sense of secrecy regarding their online activities. If your child starts to hide his or her screen when you are around, that should be a red flag.
Dangers of Social Media on Children’s Mental Health: Preventive measures and solutions
Let’s carefully review the following practical advice to assist both you and your child:
To protect your child from the negative impact of social media, consider implementing the following strategies:
- Set Limits on Screen Time: Indicate when and how the child uses social media each day, especially before bed.
- Instead of using mobile internet on their device, have them use Wi-Fi internet under your control. This way, you can log him or her off the internet. For the same purpose, you can use the internet as a hotspot.
- Encourage offline activities and games to promote improvement in his or her hobbies and socialization.
- Foster open communication by creating a good avenue for your children to commute with you, not their electronic gadgets constantly.
Social media is a powerful tool that can make and unmake a child. Parents need to understand that the internet and social media can greatly influence children’s mental health. This can be both positive and negative.
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Call to Action
Please let us know how and what you are doing to protect your child and save him or her from the negative mental health issues discussed in this post.
