Social Media Sites Impacting Children and Teens Essay

Most children and parents are so-called “addicted” to their smartphones, tablets, and computers. Our world is constantly changing, by using less paper and more screens. Is this really such a bad thing? Children can learn from the internet and actually become smarter because of it. The internet has the ability to benefit all ages, but especially children. The world is transforming into a digital place, which allows children to grow and learn, find answers in seconds, and keep up with current events around the world.

Hello my name is Daniel Acheampong and I will be presenting my analysis on CNN optional editorial about “Is Social Media Ruining our children” by Sreedhar Potarazu, an ophthalmologist, and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Vital Spring Technologies Inc., a software company focused on providing employers with applications to aid in purchasing health care. He is the author of "Get Off the Dime: The Secret of Changing Who Pays for Your Health Care"(CNN). I found this article interesting because we live in an age where our relationship with our devices are impacting us and this article talks about how social is ruining our children which are a problem our country is facing now. Sreedhar claims social media

My cousin's wife Irina Olaru has a positive attitude about the internet use of their children, a girl of four years, and a boy of two and half years. Irina graduated Bethel University, in Minnesota, four years ago. She said to me that their children use a laptop and cellphones every day. Asking her how much time daily their children spend in front of a laptop or cell phone, she said more than two hours every day, which confirms above statistical data. Asking her what attitude they have, as parents about the computer use of their children at such young age, she explained that the internet gives many opportunities of learning and developing for their children. They do not want to ban computer use because they need a time when their children

Technological advancements have flourished greatly over the last few years and have continued to become a large part of the societal norm, today. With increasing reliance on devices such as smartphones, laptops and televisions, access to information is not just easy but also prompt. However, there exists a downside to the excessive screen time exposure that children are allowed, especially internet exposure. Evidence of the pervasive nature of internet access can be inferred when statistics show that “60% of children between the age of 8 and 17 years” (Subrahmanyam et al., 2001) have some form of access to the Internet. Approximately, 14% of these children also meet the criteria for excessive Internet Users. With the rising degree of internet

The current generation of children is completely different than the preceding ones. They are living in the digital age. “Technology has blended in with daily activity to become a way of life and children today take for granted all of which is automated. It is hard for kids nowadays to imagine a world that existed without all of the gadgets, electronics and seamless operations that computer technology provides.” (3) “Children in the United States devote some 40 hours a week to television, video games and the Internet.” (12) Many psychologists and researchers are concerned about the impact that technology has on children. Children, tomorrow’s future parents and leaders, are being consumed by the negative effects that technology had on their

Today’s technology has greatly impacted the young children’s everyday lives. Phones, tablets, and computers are all a form of technology that impact the way kids are influenced. Some children get phones or computers at young ages and it can cause kids to depend on it to entertain them. Eventually they will allow the technology to take over and have it become the form of communication between friend and family instead of face to face. As parents continue to buy their children new technology they don’t monitor the amount of time their children spend on the Internet. Technology is becoming more advanced overtime which causes children to become more attached and unable to function without it near by.

From "thintastic" blogs to suicide stories, social media has become not only a source of conversation but a gateway to harmful suggestions that many teenagers see and believe to be allowable, when in fact the situations proposed are dangerous to those who attempt them. Statistics show that 20% of anorexic teenagers will die prematurely, and 80% of teenagers who commit suicide are depressed (South). Social media has glorified and brought to attention eating disorders, depression, and suicide among teens that might otherwise not become a statistic in these critical categories.

Many debates have risen over the use of technology and children, with disagreements over whether technology is healthy or unhealthy for children. The department of education and many other researchers argues that it is not the technology that affect the children, but it is the time children spend on technology (Hatch Kristina E., “Determining the effects of technology and Children”). Even though this may be true, but in order for people to fully understand the use of technology and children, they must first understand the benefits and disadvantages of technology and children and how their decision about the use of technology will affect the youth of the 21st century.

In this modern era everyone is very into social media. Social media has become a part and parcel of everyone’s life. Even kindergarden students have at least a little knowledge on social media. Social media is defined as a relationship that exist between network and people. A very common and widely used example of social media would be web sites for social networking and microblogging. Examples of utmost used social networking sites are “ Facebook ˮ and “ Twitter ˮ. Nowadays coming across kids on social networking sites has become a norm. Social media is used for many purposes which are to exchange ideas, feelings, personal information, pictures and videos. Social networking sites is one of the most preferable medium for expressing

Social media is quickly evolving in front of our eyes and it is almost impossible to reject and hide from this new form of media. Not only is it an important part of socialization within peer groups but now it is used to market and motivate people to become a part of a larger community. It is undeniably changing the way one communicates and how one finds and shares information. Most websites offer communication through the use of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and many various blog formats. With new apps on smartphones and photography and video made digital, media can be created, edited and shared quickly and once it is in this new digital cloud it is not yours anymore. Through these new advances in technology one can share things

Unfortunately, in our world, people form stereotypes, but how is social media, schooling and family life affecting those stereotypes? For many, stereotypes are automatic and unwavering mental pictures, of a certain group. Most of the time we never take into account any of their Individual differences in their personality. This is because most of the time our stereotypes are so hard and grounded, we tend to ignore or discard most, if not all information that is not compliant with the stereotype that we have developed about that Group of people (“Overcoming”). It is basic human nature to put people into nice and neat categories, which include very set and specific expectations. They’re rooted in us when we 're young, and become more defined with experiences. In our world, we have three main sources of experience; social media, school, and family. These are the main points that will be covered. The three biggest ways our developing youth form their view of different ethnic groups, and how they interact with them.

Many of us have access to the Internet and social networking sites these days. They have become essential in day-to-day life. However, there has been much controversy over teenagers having access social networking sites. Imagine your daughter or son is being bullied on Facebook or Myspace to the point that they attempt or succeed in killing themselves because of social destruction. People are not aware of the pros and cons of social networking. Does the negatives outweigh the positives of social networking? Should teenagers be banned from social networking sites?

Now of course there are pros to having a computer at a young age. For school, it makes it easier to complete projects and assignments at the pace of everyone else without the hassle of trying to find a friend with a computer or a neighbor. However, at this age teens are considering their values and are at the stage when they are trying to decide who they are, for some this may involve a sexual awakening of sorts. Children should not be exposed to that much content and resources when they do not even have themselves figured out yet. Unfortunately, we have young children who are already addicted to technology. The most difficult part of this whole situation is that younger children don’t know where to start with fixing this problem be because technology has had a heavy influence on them since day one, “While technology use is increasing, younger generations may find the use to be acceptable and less of a problem then older generations” (Gerhart). Just because the use of it is more “acceptable” does not mean technology is safer by any means. At this age children are going to be making mistakes and finding out who they are, it’s inevitable, “These years mark insurmountable growth both physically and psychologically” (Lohmann). Instead of sheltering children, guide them the right way let them fall and help them back up but beware of adding a whole world of content and media and distraction to the mix of all of this.

How does social media usage by teenagers and young adults affect academic performance, attitude towards school, and concept of identity?

Studies have shown that the average person now spends more time each day on their phone and computer than they do sleeping according to Nick McGillivray (“What are the Effects of Social Media on Youth?). Social has become part of our social society, especially for the many youths. There are positives to being on social media and also equal amounts of danger that come with using social networking sites, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. These social networking sites also have effects on today’s youth by altering the way they behave, the way they learn, in not only a classroom setting but also in the real world setting, and the way that they socialize with their peers and others.