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Social media could be harmful to young children

By Isabella Vesperini

Posted September 5, 2023

The more children are active on social media sites early in their stages of development and growth, the more dependent they will become on it. (Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash)

United States surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy recently warned that heavy social media use early on in kids’ early stages of development can expose children to inappropriate content and take them away from learning how to properly socialize.

Ashlie Kehrberg, mom of five kids, said is adamant on not letting her kids download Snapchat and TikTok due to how unsafe and addictive they are.

“It takes just a few words and searches to make your whole algorithm,” Kehrberg said. “What you post goes away in a few seconds, however, it's forever.”

Kehrberg said she has always been extremely clear about how and when her 14-year-old can use his phone. She allows him to text occasionally during the day and before bed, take it on walks and watch YouTube.

“If we’re outside, I don’t allow phones,” Kehrberg said. “I want him to find things to do outside.”

She has educated her kids on how to have conversations over text now that calling is not as common. She is mainly concerned about how bullying in group chats can go unnoticed.

“In the past, I have checked [his phone], and I didn't actually do it for him,” Kehrberg said. “I kind of checked for other people, how other people were talking to him through text message so I could educate.”

Kehrberg said she has had to restrict phone use more for her 9-year-old son because he watches YouTube too much. Even though she has taken his phone away before, her son would try to find ways to watch YouTube on the different TVs in the house.

“He could just continue and continue and not stop,” Kehrberg said. “I don't want to do restrictions on any of their devices; I want to have that openness. But it was really hard with the trusting and breaking on that one.”

Kehrberg said she is concerned about how Omegle, a website that allows you to videochat with random strangers, is making a comeback. It is easier for kids to fall prey to this website because it is completely free and anonymous.

“There are a bunch of boys like thinking ‘this is a cool to talk to a stranger,’” Kehrberg said. “But it's also extremely dangerous…you have no idea who this person is.”

McCall Booth, media school PhD student studying how media influences people, said the lack of enforcement on age restricted use on social media apps makes it easier for the majority of kids to access inappropriate content online. The more children are active on social media sites early in their stages of development and growth, the more dependent they will become on it. Getting accustomed to the quick videos may cause kids’ attention spans to shorten.

“That instant gratification can be obtained through things beyond social media beyond technology, but it is a quick and easy way to get that,” Booth said. “It might be a little too easy to get exactly what you want, or it might prime you to feel like as if I need a lot constantly in order to feel like I'm engaged, I'm entertained.”

Booth said parents should also teach their kids to reflect on their social media use and recognize when it makes them feel bad. It is important to educate kids early on in order to build trust, independence and awareness.

“Finding opportunities for them to think critically, and feel as if they're like an active participant in making the boundaries around media use can be really beneficial,” Booth said. “We want to make sure that it's [social media] not taking away time for them to practice other life skills, or hobbies or things that we want them to develop.”