AI “FAKT” conducts an analysis of the real influence of social networks on the young generation and will try to prove how important it is for parents of children to balance the use of media
Social networks have a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents. On the one hand, their popularity opens up new opportunities for communication, learning and self-expression. Children make new friends, share information and join communities that contribute to their development. On the other hand, the use of social networks has negative consequences, because excessive time consumption of information leads to addiction and loss of time for real life. In addition, some content published by other users can have a very dangerous effect on children and their future lives.
The positive impact of social media on children lies in the fact that it offers a wide range of opportunities for young users, especially in the 21st century during the active course of events. Children can actively expand their knowledge, develop skills, share creativity and express themselves. Social platforms really facilitate effective communication and offer valuable opportunities that were not available even 10 years ago. At the same time, it is important to understand the variety of social networks and use them with maximum benefit, balancing online and offline activity. So, briefly about the advantages that we managed to note:
1. Interaction of children with each other and communication
One of the most important benefits of social media for children is that they can stay in touch with their parents, friends, classmates and family. Regardless of distance and time, you can exchange messages, photos and videos, share experiences and news. This is especially important at an early age, when social ties are established and personality develops.
Research shows that children who actively use social networks feel less lonely, for example, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 81% of them believe that social networks help them stay in touch with friends they rarely see each other. -face to face.
2. Access to information and educational resources through social networks
Social media is a platform where children can get information and access educational resources, follow the news, participate in online discussions and find useful content on topics of interest to them, such as: science, art, sports and culture. Many educational institutions, higher education institutions and organizations use social media to distribute educational materials and organize virtual classes and online courses. It became especially relevant during the war.
Social media can really help kids deepen their knowledge and interests by connecting them with like-minded people, which fosters critical thinking, curiosity, and self-education.
Internet networks are even useful for career guidance and studying potential career opportunities, because teenagers can follow the profiles of companies and organizations, search for jobs and internships, and communicate with professionals in the field of their interests. Many employers also use social media to find talented young people.
3. Development of creativity and self-expression through social media
Social media gives children the opportunity to express themselves and realize their creative potential. They can share their creations, such as: photos, videos, music, literature and other works of art, and most importantly – receive feedback and evaluation from other users.
Such interaction encourages children to develop talent, creativity and self-confidence, as many of them use social networks precisely as a platform to demonstrate their skills and creative abilities. It is also not news that popular vloggers on YouTube and TikTok often started their careers in their teens, publishing entertaining and educational content.
4. Formation of communities of interest on the Internet
In social networks, young people can join groups based on common interests, discuss their hobbies and find other people with similar interests. Such groups include fans of certain music bands or genres, fans of science fiction, sports fans, activists who support social and environmental initiatives, etc.
By participating in such online communities, children or teenagers can feel part of a group, express their views and receive support from others. For example, on the Tumblr platform, young people often discuss topics and characters of popular books, share creative works based on their favorite works. Such communication helps to develop social skills, strengthens the sense of belonging to the community and expands the worldview.
However, it is important to remember that not all online communities are helpful and positive. Some of them promote harmful ideas such as extremism, bad habits and risky behavior. Therefore, it is important that children clearly develop critical thinking and be able to identify potentially dangerous groups and sources of information, but more on that later.
Negative influence of social networks on children
Despite the obvious advantages, the use of social networks can have a number of negative and even critical consequences, especially for the vulnerable psyche of children and adolescents. Excessive virtual reality immersion has an unsustainable effect on emotional well-being, learning and social skills in the real world.
In addition to the obvious threats, such as cyberbullying and contact with perpetrators, there are more hidden risks associated with the formation of unrealistic beliefs and addictions. It is extremely important for parents and teachers to quickly identify dangerous trends and teach their children the skills of safe use of social networks.
1. Risks of cyberbullying and cyberstalking
One of the most serious problems associated with the use of social networks is cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Children are often victims of online posts with insults, harassment, doxxing or dangerous content. Cyberbullying can take many forms, including sending threatening or abusive messages, spreading rumours, and posting personal photos or videos without the victim’s permission.
Research shows that about a third of children and young people experience some form of cyberbullying and that it has a significant negative impact on children’s mental health, self-esteem, academic performance and relationships. In some cases, cyberbullying can even lead to clinical depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal thoughts.
There are hundreds of examples of situations where teenagers have died from cyberbullying or a similar influence, even in recent years in Ukraine. Some of them:
2. Negative impact on self-esteem
Social media often creates unrealistic standards of beauty and success, as well as idealized views of other people’s lives. Constantly comparing yourself to edited and filtered images of other users can negatively affect a child’s self-esteem and perception of their own body and appearance.
Research shows that excessive use of social media is associated with a higher risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, especially among teenage girls. Constant comparison with the “ideal” bodies and lifestyles of others leads to feelings of inferiority, dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance, and striving for unrealistic standards.
In addition, social media promotes the spread of negative comments and criticism about appearance, which further exacerbates the problem. It is important that young people learn to be critical of the content they see on social networks.
3. Problems with concentration and academic performance
Excessive use of social media can negatively affect young people’s ability to concentrate on their studies. Constant notifications, messages, and distractions on their devices often make it difficult for them to focus on homework, studying materials, and participating in class activities.
Research shows that young people who spend a lot of time on social media have lower academic performance and have difficulty planning, organizing and completing homework. In addition, the use of smartphones and other devices during homework significantly reduces productivity and quality of work.
4. Decrease in the level of personal communication and social skills
Although social media facilitates online communication, it can hinder the development of social skills in real life and face-to-face communication. Too much time spent in virtual space makes it difficult to establish personal connections, recognize non-verbal signals and maintain healthy relationships.
Children who are overinvolved in social media may encounter difficulties in forming deep connections, resolving conflicts and expressing their feelings, and they may also miss out on important social events and situations that occur in the real world, which can have a negative impact on their development.
5. Internet addiction
Excessive use of social networks sometimes leads to Internet addiction. By spending too much time online, children can neglect other important aspects of their lives, such as studies, hobbies, physical activity, and real-life connections with friends and family.
Symptoms of Internet addiction
- obsession with constantly checking social networks;
- frustration when access is not possible;
- loss of productivity and decreased interest in other activities;
- sleep and eating disorders.
Prolonged exposure to the virtual world can lead to social isolation and physical health problems (due to a sedentary lifestyle) and emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety.
We also consider it important and appropriate to consider the influence of social networks on the political views of teenagers during the war.
Social networks also influence the formation of political views and the involvement of teenagers in public life. They allow young people to get acquainted with different opinions, participate in discussions and unite in campaigns on topical issues. For example, during the Black Lives Matter movement, social media was used to spread information, organize protests, and draw attention to racism and police brutality. Many teenagers actively participated in these online discussions and actions, forming their political views and civic attitudes. However, it is worth noting that social networks can also contribute to the spread of misinformation, radical ideas and the polarization of society. Therefore, it is important to develop critical thinking and media literacy in teenagers so that they can analyze the plausibility of information and form their own well-founded views.
During the war and related restrictions, especially in the “forward” areas, social networks became even more important for teenagers. They have become a key tool for keeping in touch with friends and family, continuing education online, and accessing entertainment content and information about the situation at the front.
However, prolonged isolation and excessive use of social media during this period can also have a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Studies show an increase in cases of depression, anxiety disorders and internet addiction among young people during wartime.
In this situation, the role of parents, teachers and psychologists is especially important in ensuring the balanced use of digital technologies and social networks, as well as supporting the mental health of adolescents in difficult conditions.
Recommendations and opportunities for parents to ensure children’s information security.
A smart approach to using social media can maximize its benefits and minimize its risks. It is important to develop a balanced strategy that takes into account the psychological characteristics of adolescents and work together to create a safe virtual environment in which the child can live safely.
The key elements here are open dialogue, setting reasonable boundaries, acquiring digital literacy and critical thinking skills, or taking timely measures to avoid negative scenarios and develop a responsible attitude towards social networks.
1. Establishing healthy boundaries in the use of social networks
One of the top tips for kids to use social media safely and healthily is to set clear boundaries and rules. It is important that children learn to consciously control the time they spend on the Internet and allocate enough time for other important activities, such as studies, hobbies, sports, reading and live communication with friends and family. For example, by setting specific times or time limits for online activity, parents can help their children set reasonable limits on social media use. It can also be helpful to set “off hours” to limit access to social networks and devices, such as during family events or meals.
2. Raising awareness of risks and threats
Children and their parents should be aware of the potential risks and dangers associated with using social media. It’s important to teach your kids about safe online behavior, including protecting their personal information, recognizing the signs of cyberbullying, unsafe communities and false content, and understanding the consequences of online behavior.
Parents should openly discuss online safety with their children and explain the importance of privacy and caution when interacting with strangers online.
3. Development of critical thinking and media literacy
In the age of information overload with social media content, it is important to develop critical thinking and media literacy in children and adolescents, because this will help them analyze and evaluate the plausibility and quality of the content they consume, recognize manipulative or misleading messages, and avoid the negative consequences of unrealistic expectations and idealized images.
Parents and educators should teach young people to check sources of information, analyze the goals and objectives of content producers, and teach children to recognize signs of bias and propaganda. It is also important to help them understand that edited or filtered images on social media do not reflect reality and can create a false impression of other people’s lives.
4. Encouraging communication in real life and hobbies
Parents should help children communicate in real life, develop hobbies and interests outside of social networks, because this can help them stabilize their lives, prevent excessive obsession with virtual reality and support the development of their personality, social skills and creativity.
It is important to encourage children to participate in various extracurricular creative, sports and volunteer activities. These hobbies can help them make new friends, develop communication and teamwork skills, and gain experiences that can’t be had online alone.
Parents can also encourage their children to spend more time with their family and organize activities outside of social media, such as going for walks or playing games together, which can help strengthen bonds and create positive memories.
5. Monitoring and control
Parents play the most important role in monitoring and controlling teenagers’ use of social networks. It is important to have an open dialogue with them and discuss topics related to online activity, as well as set reasonable limits and rules if necessary.
It’s important to know what social networks and apps your children use and understand the risks and threats associated with each platform. To do this, you can use parental controls in your smartphone or special applications to monitor online activity and set limits on the time of use or access to certain resources.
However, it is important to maintain a balance between control and trust, to avoid excessive strictness or invasion of the child’s personal space. Open dialogue, explanations of the reasons for establishing rules and joint decision-making will contribute to more effective regulation of the use of social networks.
6. The role of schools and communities
In addition to parents, schools and local communities also play an important role in ensuring safe and healthy use of social media by teenagers. Educational institutions can develop and implement media literacy and digital safety programs, teaching young people critical thinking, risk recognition and responsible online behavior. In addition, schools can organize information campaigns, seminars or trainings for parents to raise their awareness of the influence of social media on teenagers and help them learn to monitor and manage their children more effectively in this area.
Local communities, such as youth centers or non-profit organizations, can provide resources and activities aimed at supporting the positive use of technology and social media among teenagers. This includes organizing discussion groups, digital literacy workshops or creating safe platforms for communication and creative expression. Collaboration between families, schools and communities is essential to create a supportive environment where teenagers can use social media safely and responsibly, with support from adults.
It is important to understand that social networks in themselves are neither good nor bad – it all depends on how they are used. A conscious and balanced approach to the use of social networks, based on the establishment of healthy boundaries, the development of critical thinking and media literacy, as well as the presence of real communication and hobbies, will only benefit the development of adolescents.
At the same time, excessive and uncontrolled absorption into the virtual world can have negative consequences for the mental and physical health, social development and success of children. Therefore, it is very important that parents, teachers, schools and communities work together to ensure the positive use of social networks by the younger generation.
It is necessary to carry out the mentioned measures and further research on this topic in order to better understand the impact of social networks on various aspects of the lives of children and young people, to develop even more effective recommendations for their protection, as well as development in the digital age. Only in this way will we be able to maximize the potential of the latest technologies and at the same time minimize the risks associated with them for the well-being of the younger generation in a rapidly changing digital environment.
