We all know that social media has gained popularity and become an essential part of the young generation’s life. But this brings both excitement and concern. For parents, it’s a point of worry whether their children are spending excessive time scrolling through a wide range of content online and how this will affect their health. Yes, keeping a balance between the pros and cons of social media is not easy; certain factors need to be understood.
Don’t worry, this blog will help parents explore the pros and cons of social media. It will enable children to live a digitally balanced life. So, keep learning!
What is social media?
“Social media is a huge collection of websites and apps that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.”
Some of the most recently popular ones include Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X (previously known as Twitter). These platforms enable users to communicate with others, access information, and express themselves. For many people, social media is more than a mere tool but a way to stay connected to peers and the world.
Social media has taken over the world in recent years, particularly among teenagers. As stated in a 2024 report about teens and social media from the Pew Research Centre, almost 95% of teens in the United States have access to a smartphone, and nearly 90% of them report using at least one social media platform daily, YouTube is on the top of the list.
Furthermore, the evolution of social media has significantly transformed the way students learn, communicate, and perceive the world around them. Although it is fun and a great way to express one’s creativity, it can be dangerous in many ways. This is precisely the reason why, as a guardian, you should be aware of how these platforms operate and the policies they abide by.
Age restrictions of social media
As with most social media platforms, user must be 13 years old to create an account. These guidelines are based on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). These rules help prevent younger users from being exposed to adult content and the multitude of risks associated with the internet.
Regardless of the rules, many teenagers find ways to circumvent them. Some may impersonate someone of an older age during registration, while others go so far as to create multiple accounts. Therefore, it makes it harder for parents to keep track of their children’s activities.
Know the risks, embrace the benefits. Balance beats bans: raising resilient digital natives.
Pros of social media for teens
No one can deny that social media is an integral part of people’s lives, especially among adolescents. Having said that, it can yield unlimited advantages when used correctly. Let’s discuss the most highlighted benefits of social media for teens if use properly.
Pros:
- Enhanced communication: Social media helps adolescents maintain their friendships and relationships. Be it chatting, sharing pictures or commenting on others’ posts, their relationships remain intact even if they are far away from each other.
- Showcasing talent: It is the best way to express talents through pictures, videos, writing, and even music. Yes, social media is a platform where users can express their creativity and imagination through words and share them with others.
- Increased self-esteem: It is normal for teenagers to feel good about themselves when they receive praise for sharing commendable content. Well, such positive reinforcement is important for building self-esteem.
- Learning opportunities: From cooking to science experiments, it seems like teens follow social media pages that actually teach them useful skills and facts. They learn about the world and new ideas too.
- Finding support: Fighting anxiety, stress, or bullying is tough, but social media can help teens connect with people who understand them. Knowing that they are not alone is comforting.
- Discovering interests: Social media facilitates easy exploration of hobbies, sports, and different forms of art, which helps teens discover what they actually love doing.
- Staying informed: With almost everything available on social media, teens get most of their news and updates from it, which helps them understand current events and what is happening around the world.
- Raising awareness: Social media gives teens a voice, helping them speak out about issues they care about and support good causes to inspire others.
Social media can offer value to your teen’s life when used and guided carefully. It’s not all about scrolling; it can be about growing, too.
Cons of social media for teens
Social media has positive features, but also poses a myriad of risks, especially for adolescents. As a guardian, it is your responsibility to be aware of these risks to help your child navigate the internet safely and healthily. Here are eight major disadvantages of social media for adolescents.
Cons:
- Online bullying: Cyberbullying is one of the most prevalent issues. Some adolescents receive hurtful messages, ridicule, or even threats through various online platforms. This bullying can be very traumatising and often difficult to evade.
- Low self-worth: Social media holds plenty of astonishing photographs and thrilling updates. As a result, adolescents often find themselves comparing their lives to those of others, which can have a bad effect on their self-perception.
- Health effects: Adolescents scrolling through applications on their phones late at night is quite a common phenomenon. This habit can lead to insufficient sleep, which can strain one’s mood, concentration, and overall health.
- Addiction: Social media can be all-consuming. Adolescents, for instance, may feel as if they need to check their phones constantly, even during meals or while attending school.
- Exposure to harmful content: Adolescents may, at some point, come across violent clips, inappropriate images, or even certain perilous challenges. You know, this type of content can be extremely disturbing and impact one’s mental state negatively.
- Privacy concerns: Teens share their private information without knowing who will see it. Therefore, it can be a stranger, a scam artist, or even an employer.
- Misinformation: Not all information is true, and teens may believe false information and spread it, which can be harmful.
- Applying pressure: Posting or receiving likes on a social media platform comes with the pressure to do it immediately. This leads to social stress, anxiety, and other associated problems.
Based on the previous discussions, we can conclude that the use of social media has pros and cons on users when provided with guidance and parental support. They can help the teen avoid the unwanted consequences and use social media in a safe manner.
Signs of the need for a social media break
Increased social media usage has the potential to affect a teen’s health, behaviour, and mood. As a parent, it is essential to know when it’s best to take a step back. These are some indicators that suggest your child needs to take a break from social platforms:
! Their mood changes rapidly: If they seem irritated, depressed, angry, or anxious immediately after scrolling through social media, it’s likely that their social media content consumption is negatively impacting their emotional state.
! Lack of sleep: Endless social media scrolling before bed can make it harder to sleep. Teens who stay up late may feel tired, irritable, and struggle to get out of bed for school.
! Deteriorating grades: Social media and phone usage can be excessively distracting. If your child is not able to manage their time well, their grades may begin to suffer.
! Negative self-image: Social platforms expose teens to carefully curated lifestyles and appearances, leading them to unrealistic comparisons. If your child appears to be constantly dissatisfied with himself or herself, openly talk with them and figure out what’s happening.
! Less physical activities: Pay more attention to your child’s outdoor and sports time. Over-consumption of social media will only make people more mentally challenged and spend more time on the couch and in bed swiping their cell phones.
! Anxiety over trending topics: Teens follow social media trends and do so to gain likes and attention. The drudgery associated with posting so often can make social media feel less like a leisure activity.
If you notice some of these signs, it’s better to gently suggest a break in the activity so they can change gears and help them find balance.
Should parents monitor their teens’ social media?
Every parent would want to protect their child as much as give them freedom. This balance can be very difficult to strike, especially with social media.
Monitoring a teen’s online activity can help reduce risks such as online harassment, scams, and inappropriate contacts. Parental controls are effective tools for blocking violent, pornographic, or other harmful content, ensuring a safer digital environment. Additionally, parental monitoring encourages kids to use social media responsibly and adopt healthier habits, such as reducing screen time and promoting better sleep schedules.
However, there are notable downsides. Excessive oversight may lead to feelings of distrust between parents and teens, potentially affecting the relationship. Teenagers who feel their privacy is being invaded might respond by hiding their activity, using secret accounts, or borrowing others’ devices. Overly strict control can backfire
To strike the right balance, open communication is key. Rather than enforcing rigid rules, parents should involve teens in setting boundaries and discussing expectations. Asking about their online experiences without judgment can build trust and demonstrate respect. When teens feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to engage in honest conversations.
FlashGet Kids helps balance your child’s social media use
For real-time help managing screen time and monitoring social media activity, consider parental control tools like FlashGet Kids, designed to support healthy digital habits without invading your child’s privacy. These are some of the most notable features that can help:
- Screen Time: This feature allows parents to limit the time children spend on devices, promoting a healthy balance.
- App Blocker: Suspend the use of distracting apps during designated times, encouraging task completion.
- Screen mirroring: Synchronize your child’s phone screen anytime you turn on your phone. It enables you to see what your child is browsing or chatting about in real-life and spot any suspicious signs in time, maybe you missed before.
- Daily Usage: Reports containing details of the time spent on various apps are sent to parents for a better understanding of their children’s digital habits.
- Notifications: Receive notifications and text messages of your child’s phone.
General parental tips:
Helping your teen balance social media usage and ensuring it is done in moderation is a step towards protecting their mental and physical wellness. Here is how you can easily assist them:
- Encourage more outdoor activities: Offer support towards your child’s hobbies, sports, or any other form of creative expression to help them spend time away from the screens. Such activities help develop skills and friendships that cannot be gained through social media.
- Discuss online experiences openly: Make sure your child is comfortable sharing what they interact with online, as well as how it makes them feel.
- Teach privacy and safety: Remind them not to share sensitive information such as their home address or phone number. Teach them how to utilise privacy settings and block or report strangers and harmful or inappropriate content.
- Encourage critical thinking: The ability to differentiate between helpful and harmful information, along with identifying fake news, goes a long way toward keeping them safe.
Following these tips will ensure that your teen can maintain a good balance on social media. To be honest, your support and understanding can make a huge difference, so remember that.
Final thought
No hesitation in saying that social media is a double-edged sword in teen life. We can not look at single pros or cons of using social media. As a parent, your guidance matters. Stay involved in your teen’s digital life, not by spying, but by staying informed, setting boundaries, and creating space for open, judgment-free conversations. The goal isn’t to control but to co-navigate the digital world together. So, it is important to listen to your children and help them lead a balanced life, enabling them to use social media in a positive manner.
