As technology moves forward, more people have internet and media devices.
Social media provides different opportunities to children, including learning, connecting, and exploring new ideas. But parents should also keep an eye on the negative effects of social media on the mental health of their children.
Too much time looking at screens and expecting too much has made kids more likely to feel worried and sad. It’s concerning that UNICEF says 1 out of 7 Indians between 15 and 24 years old feel down because they use social media too much.
In this article, we’ll explore the negative impacts, tools, and resources that can help parents guide their children to build a healthy, positive social media environment.
While social media enables kids to learn and socialize, excessive use can damage their mental health.
Social media has a strong influence on mental health regarding anxiety and depression.
Kids constantly seeing perfect-looking pictures online end up comparing themselves a lot, making them feel bad. Studies show teens who overuse social media have a 13% to 66% higher chance of becoming depressed.
Unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying and harassment can inflict severe emotional harms, which have an impact on mental well-being and social isolation.
These events can hurt self-worth and bring about wider problems like unfriendly behavior, bad grades, and trouble paying attention.
Kids who spend more time on social platforms spend less time participating in activities like sports, leading to lower confidence and more socioemotional difficulties.
The blue light emitted by electronic screens messes with kids’ sleep patterns. Children spend countless hours browsing social media videos and posts, making falling asleep a challenge. It has a negative effect, leading to problems with focus, crankiness, and a less effective immune system.
As a parent, you should keep an eye on your child’s device, check on them, and create a well-rounded & secure social media setting to lessen the downsides of social media.
Here are some approaches that can help your child develop better habits:
Make rules about screen time, including when to use devices and do other things. Put daily caps on social media to give kids time for offline activities.
Create a space where kids feel safe sharing their thoughts and discussing what they do. Parents should check in with their kids about social media, how it affects them, and any bad stuff they see.
Ask teens to be real about how social media makes them feel. Show them how to step back from mean comments, stop following accounts that stress them out, and use social media in ways that make their lives better.
Parent control tools help moms and dads monitor what their kids do online and set some rules.
Here are some features:
Moreover, many educational resources are designed to teach children about the dangers of social media and how to navigate it safely. Parents can engage with parenting communities and online forums to gain valuable insights for their kid’s safety and access to practical tips and strategies.
Schools, especially international schools near Gachibowli, often set up programs to teach kids how to use social media.
Social networking is becoming a major factor in today’s upbringing. Parents have to monitor those platforms’ usage so they can discuss the impact social media has on their kids.
Once parents understand the negative effects of Social media on children, such as stress, depression, sleeplessness, cyberbullying, and more, they need to guide their children and monitor their use to ensure they do not get harmed due to overuse of social media channels.
The Shri Ram Academy, one of the best international schools in Gachibowli, helps parents teach their kids good online habits while giving them a well-rounded education.
