Social media has its pros and cons for everyone. You’ve probably found yourself losing time to mindless scrolling more than once, or comparing yourself to an influencer or even a friend who posts perfect pictures.
But, as an adult, it’s easier to look at those pros and cons and decide how much social media use is right for you. As a parent, it’s also up to you to determine how much — if any — is right for your children.
Social media can influence child development and self-esteem, creating lasting issues and potential mental health challenges that could impact their future relationships and the way they see themselves.
While that doesn’t necessarily mean your child should completely avoid social media, it’s important to know some of the risks so you can do what’s best for your child and your family.
Comparison Issues
As stated above, it’s not uncommon for adults to struggle with comparison issues on social media. That problem is often much worse for kids.
Keep in mind that social media is often nothing more than a highlight reel of people’s lives. The people who appear to look perfect, have everything, or never deal with challenges probably aren’t what they seem. They’ve used filters on photos, edited videos perfectly, and know just what to say to make things seem great.
For a child, though, seeing those people can make them feel like they aren’t as good. They can develop self-esteem issues, body image issues, and so much more.
The Need for Validation
While social media is about sharing life experiences, there’s another aspect of it that can’t be ignored. Most platforms have the ability to “like” and comment on posts. Kids want to be validated, in general, especially by peers. So, if they post something and it doesn’t get the number of “likes” they want, it can be crushing to their esteem.
Validation can quickly become the driving factor for them to share things on social media. It can cause them to post content simply for the sake of getting noticed, rather than showing off who they really are.
Cyberbullying
Kids have to deal with the risk of bullying in their everyday lives, but it tends to happen much more frequently online. People tend to feel safe to say whatever they want on social media because they’re “protected” behind the screen of a computer or phone.
As a result, your child might experience negative comments from peers, or even complete strangers. Even if they’re able to handle bullying well, those comments are hurtful and can quickly get under a child’s skin.
Some cyberbullying practices can carry over into your child’s physical life. If peers or “friends” are making comments online, it could impact your child’s relationships at school, or even disrupt their academic career.
What Can You Do?
As a parent, it’s up to you to decide the role social media plays in your child’s life. One of the best things you can do is to have frequent conversations about social media with them. Talk about how to be safe. Let them know that social media isn’t always a great depiction of reality. Encourage them to question what’s real and what’s simply being posted for attention.
Encourage them to do other things offline that boost their self-esteem and utilize their skills. Monitoring screen time is a great way to let them experience social media without allowing it to take over.
By striking a healthy balance with social media, it will have less of an influence on your child’s development and self-esteem. If they’re already struggling with some self-esteem issues, it’s never too early to put these practices into place, or to have them talk to a professional for help. Contact Us for more information.