The Dangers of Social Media to Children and Teens

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The Dangers of Social Media to Children and Teens

Introduction

Social media has become a crucial element of modern communication and information sharing, with profound consequences for society. However, its excessive usage by children and teenagers poses serious dangers that could compromise their wellbeing and well-being. Conflict theory suggests that social media platforms are scarce resources that children and teens compete over, leading to social inequality and conflict. Conflict theory asserts that social media platforms create a power imbalance between those with access to them and those without, leading to social conflict and inequality (Fardouly et al., 2015). Social media companies have fostered an environment in which children and teens compete for attention, likes, followers, or any form of recognition, leading to scarcity and inequality. This paper aims to examine the dangers posed by social media to children and teens using the sociological theory of ‘conflict theory’ and empirical evidence.

Nielsen and Graves (2020) defined social media as any web-based service that enables individuals to create public or semi-public profiles within a bounded system and set a list of users with whom they share an interest, view, or check on other connections as well as any made by others in the system. This creates a complicated web of people interacting online and not necessarily knowing each other at a personal level. Social media platforms have revolutionized communication and interaction, yet at the same time, they can pose risks, particularly to children and teens.

Current Trends in Data

Patchin and Hinduja (2020) defined cyberbullying as an aggressive or intentional act committed by an individual or group of people using the internet repeatedly against an individual who cannot defend themself. Pew Research Center (2018 report discovered that 34% of American students had experienced some form of cyberbullying at some point. Out of this population, 17% claimed to experience cyberbullying very regularly. Cyberbullying can strike anytime; victims are often helpless against its power. This form of abuse poses serious concerns because abusers can strike without notice. Victims are left helpless when trying to escape its hold causes serious emotional, psychological, and social implications.

Royal Society for Public Health (2017) conducted an in-depth investigation on the effect of social media use on mental health and found strong associations with depression, anxiety, and sleep problems among young adults. Social comparison increased due to social media use, resulting in negative emotions that deteriorated mental health. Sleep interference contributed significantly towards lower well-being and overall poorer mental health. Therefore, all factors should be taken seriously, considering that mental illness often has long-lasting repercussions for children and teenagers.

Empirical evidence points towards social media platforms having negative repercussions for children and teenagers, including studies by the Royal Society for Public Health that link them with increased rates of anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality, and body image issues among young people (Royal Society for Public Health 2017). Another study by the Pew Research Center (2018) concluded that excessive use of social media may lead to cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and addiction issues for...