The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families

Social media has changed the way people communicate with their friends and family. It can penetrate almost every aspect of a young person’s life. Marketing companies and scholars alike have done plenty of research on the impact of social media on society, so how does it affect your lives? Alex Lysak, a digital marketing expert, discusses how it affects adolescents, children, and families. 

Communication Skills

There’s been a consensus among the researchers that social media helps children and adolescents practice their communication skills. They can communicate with people from around the world, which can help kids and teens learn empathy and talk to people from different walks of life. 

Education

Using forums on various platforms, watching videos, and having discussions with people who hold similar interests, one of the social media effects on children is a broader education. Children are exposed to topics that school curriculums rarely cover. Podcasts are a big part of the information that kids get. 

With the launch of the new platform, Clubhouse, kids and teens are now exposed to even more information. Various reports have stated that Clubhouse may be the future of podcasts. Clubhouse is an audio-only media that recently rolled out the Android app, where it was solely available to Apple users before. It’s invitation-only and hosts celebrities, influencers, and experts from the U.S. 

Safety

Clubhouse has received some scrutiny about the safety of its various rooms. People have commented that many rooms aren’t adequately moderated, but this is likely growing pains, something that every social media platform goes through as it becomes more popular. 

The safety of these platforms is part of how social media is changing family relationships. Parents should monitor their children’s movements to ensure that they understand the risks and know how to keep themselves safe. Children and teens can view this as their parents interfering in their personal lives, or it can be time to spend with their parents. 

How is Social Media Changing Family Relationships?

What are the social media effects on adolescent development? According to the Mayo Clinic, there seems to be a reason to worry.  Besides being a distraction from important tasks, social media has also been shown to disrupt the sleep patterns of teens, something that can be detrimental to their health. It also exposes them to bullying and the spreading of rumors. 

Dove points out how social media can also create unrealistic expectations for youngsters. They try and get likes on their posts, sometimes in unhealthy ways, and it can be damaging to their self-esteem. 

What can You Do?

Parents can help their kids navigate the complicated world of social media by explaining what is acceptable and what not. Encourage family time where no one is on a device, and monitor your child’s profiles. You can have conversations about social media, what the research says, and how your child can make good choices. You should also encourage face-to-face social time with friends. 

Final Thoughts

Social media has many pros and cons. Regardless of how you feel about your kids and teens using these platforms, it’s something that’s here to stay. Help your kids to get positive impacts through social media. 

Sources:

• https://www.dove.com/us/en/dove-self-esteem-project/help-for-parents/social-media/social-media-affect-on-teens.html
• https://givingcompass.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-e2EBhAhEiwAJI5jgxI0w8f_OB4mLZoOtVuG6ck7U-l_6m9umadzGB7Arh9IWHMtk0qgFhoCP7QQAvD_BwE
• https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437#:~:text=However%2C%20social%20media%20use%20can,much%20social%20media%20teens%20use.
• https://scanteam.pro/will-clubhouse-kill-podcasts-and-radio/
• https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/news-blogs/what-is-the-clubhouse-app-what-parents-need-to-know/
• https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/online-master-of-public-health/impact-of-social-media-on-youth-mental-health/