When I was 13 years old, I wanted to be internet famous. Growing up in the digital age, my middle school life was defined by quirky Tumblr trends and infectious Musical.ly audio. I learned how to dress according to trends, change my taste in music, and even learn how to apply makeup. The only obstacle that hindered my rise to stardom was that my parents wouldn’t let me have social media.
At the time, this felt like an indefinite punishment. Since I was an awkward child, he had one less interaction with his classmates, which made things even more difficult. But as I’ve grown up and seen how social media platforms can affect children, I’m grateful that I was able to stay safe a little longer than most of my peers.
Last Wednesday, Several tech CEOs have been summoned to the U.S. Senate. Answer your child safety questions online. The conference was held in the wake of several young people dying from mental health problems caused or exacerbated by social media use. Victims and their families were present scattered throughout the floor. The hearing revealed there are real problems with child sexual exploitation, promotion of eating disorders, self-harm and cyberbullying on these platforms.
While these companies have taken some steps to ensure children’s safety on their platforms, it’s clear that it’s not enough. From disinformation and targeted advertising to sex offenders and bullying, there is no way to neutralize all threats to children online without seriously impacting the way we communicate. Therefore, I believe that parents also need to be more proactive when giving their children access to social media.
The child’s guardian has the sole responsibility of advocating for the child’s well-being. In the digital age we live in, this includes protecting children not only from physical reality but also from the dangers that appear on screen.
by Pew Research Center, 95% of teens have used social media in their lives, and 77% use some social media platform daily. While YouTube is the most commonly used social media platform reported, platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat also show high levels of engagement between young people and others online, with more exchanges are taking place.
In reality, young people cannot easily escape from these spaces. This means that parents must ensure that they are responsible internet users and do not interact with content or users that may cause them harm.This can be done easily without completely taking away the benefits of social media and internet access.
There are countless applications available to concerned parents Anyone who wants to monitor their child’s internet usage. our agreement, This tool, available in the Apple Store, is one of the most popular and comprehensive tools you can use to monitor your child’s activities online. This allows parents to see where someone is, who they’re talking to and what they’re talking about, as well as apply limits on phone usage and app downloads.
Parents of older children and teens should check their app privacy settings, re-emphasize the dangers of talking to strangers online, and understand the possible consequences when taking certain actions online. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring that the risks are understood.
All in all, there are too many ways parents can act to ensure their children are as safe online as they are offline. Children should not be given access to these social media platforms until they are old enough to understand the implications of participating in these communities.
The internet can be a scary place for young people. Perhaps this will never change. What must change is how parents and guardians respond to this risk and prepare their children for it.
This story was written by Clara Lebron. You can contact her at: [email protected].
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