Why Kids Shouldn't get Social Media Until they are Eighteen

At this point, adults can’t even handle it

While it is true that social media can be used for good the truth is it's often not.

I remember when my oldest was around the age of ten, I would get friend requests from her friends who were also around the same age. I thought it was odd that someone so young would be on a platform that’s meant for ages 13 and up.

I decided a long time ago that I saw little benefit of my children getting social media at a young age. It sets them up in a trap and keeps them from enjoying the life that is right in front of them.

Here are the reasons that I won’t let my children have social media before the age of 18.

Comparison

With children’s young and immaturely developed brains, this can be a real issue. Around the preteen age, children want to fit in and be accepted.

We all know that when you go on social media, you are only seeing people’s highlights and not their everyday living. Comparison is a problem for everyone but especially at this young age.

Another issue is that many people embellish their life on social media. It is a lie and not their true self. Instead of the young person developing their authenticity they feel pressure to be someone they are not.

It can stunt their growth and maturity when they feel like they always have to perform to get “likes.”

It creates poor mental health.

Social media can negatively affect teens by distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, and peer pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

There are also correlations between high levels of social media use and anxiety and depression among teens.

There is something so sweet about young people hanging out, talking, and being creative together. Instead, a lot of what I see today are youth sitting together in groups on their individual phones. How is that connecting?

Young people need to learn good and healthy social skills that will last them a lifetime, and adolescence is a crucial time for them to learn. If they do not learn this skill, they can become socially stunted as they enter adulthood.

Cyberbullying

Did you ever experience bullying growing up? I did, and I can’t imagine what that would be like now with social media. Teens not only feel pressure to overshare to get attention on social media, but any pictures taken of them can and will be used against them if someone wants to do them harm.

It’s also a quick way to spread false rumors and create a bully mob against a teen. Cyberbullying, as of late, has shown a strong correlation to young people attempting or committing suicide.

Final Thoughts

I am grateful for the parents who stand in solidity with me on this conviction because my teens know that they are not alone.

When they have friends over, they laugh, watch movies, go for walks to Target, or go for bike rides. They are free to be kids and not have to worry about the entrapment of an image built on an exploitive platform.

For more statics on the harm of social media on young people you can visit https://enough.org/statistics