Appropriate Age for the Use of Social Media
Social media has become a part of the daily lives of teenagers and adults. Empirical data estimates that 90% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 use social media, with 51% of them accessing social media sites each day (AACAP, n.d.). I propose that the appropriate age for a teenager to start using social media is sixteen. This is because before then, a child cannot exercise self-control and knowledge on how to protect themselves from the dangers that they will be exposed to online.
The use of social media exposes teenagers to sexual predators. Several pedophiles have adopted social media as a way to prey on teenagers and lure them. Children below the age of sixteen are naïve and vulnerable. They may post innocent pictures and engage in conversations without realizing that they are placing themselves in harm’s way. Sexual predators may lure the children to meet them physically or to engage in sexual conversations (Bulman, 2019). This shows the danger that lurks on social media platforms.
Social media is highly addictive. Teenagers below the age of sixteen may not have the necessary self-discipline to control their use of social media. Research reveals that the average time that teenagers spend online each day is nine hours (AACAP, n.d.). This shows how excessive the use of social media is. Teenagers may develop a constant dependence on social media and end up having feelings of sadness if they do not have access to it (Leung, 2014). This reveals a problem that will affect the teenager’s academic, social, and emotional well-being.
On the contrary, social media usage below the age of 16 can build a teenager’s confidence. It enables them to engage in conversations that boost their self-esteem. Further, it creates an ample social space where the teenager can post their thoughts and pictures, which may generate positive feedback from their peers, which boosts their confidence. However, they may also receive negative comments, which lower their self-esteem and may lead to depression. A study conducted on eighth and ninth graders revealed that many teens who use social media show signs of mental health issues (Stevens, 2017). Clearly, the benefits are not worth risking a child’s mental health.
The risks and consequences associated with a teenager’s use of social media outweigh the benefits. Before the age of sixteen, children have not matured enough to exercise responsible use of social media. Therefore, parents should make every effort to prevent their children from accessing social media before they reach the age of sixteen. This will ensure that they are protected from the dangers that lurk online.
References
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology. (n.d.). Social media and teens. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Social-Media-and-Teens-100.aspx
Bulman, M. (2019, September 11). Sexual grooming crimes soar by a third as paedophiles turn to Instagram. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sexual-grooming-instagram-social-media-children-paedophile-children-sex-a9099016.html
Leung, L. (2014). Predicting internet risks: A longitudinal panel study of gratifications-sought, internet addiction symptoms, and social media use among children and adolescents. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 2(1), 424-439. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2014.902316
Stevens, A. P. (2017, October 12). Social media: What’s not to like? Science News for Students. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/social-media-whats-not